What happens when we move beyond simply reading a text and begin asking questions about it together?
At Academe of the Oaks, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens through curiosity, conversation, and the exploration of ideas. Our Chautauqua Saturdays give parents, guardians, and members of our community an opportunity to experience this approach firsthand.
Our first Chautauqua session of the school year will take place on Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m. Join us for a thoughtful Saturday morning of conversation, coffee, and pastries.
What Is a Chautauqua at Academe of the Oaks?
Chautauqua Saturdays are part of Academe of the Oaks’ commitment to experiential education. In our classrooms, students investigate primary texts and explore the history, ideas, and questions behind the subjects they study.
Rather than simply memorizing information about an idea, students are encouraged to encounter it, question it, and discover its meaning for themselves.
Parents and visitors have often expressed a desire to experience these conversations alongside our students. Chautauqua Saturdays make that possible.
Borrowing inspiration from the historic Chautauqua tradition, Academe invites adults in our community to gather around a reading and participate in an open, thoughtful discussion.
How Does a Socratic Seminar Work?
Each Chautauqua uses the Socratic Seminar model.
A member of the Academe faculty begins the conversation with a question based on the assigned reading. From there, the discussion develops organically. The faculty member helps guide the conversation, clarify ideas, and introduce questions when helpful, but the participants themselves shape where the conversation goes.
No lecture. No test. No expectation that anyone arrive as an expert.
Instead, participants read, listen, question, respond, and think together.
The goal is to create what we call a “friendly republic”—a space where different ideas can be explored openly and respectfully. Like a jazz ensemble, one person’s thought can inspire another, creating a conversation that becomes richer than any one person might experience reading alone.
Together, we explore enduring questions about the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Do You Need Previous Knowledge to Participate?
No.
No previous knowledge of the author or subject is required, and outside research is not expected.
Participants should read the assigned text in advance, but it is your own observations, questions, and ideas that matter most. A second reading may reveal new ideas or help clarify thoughts from the first, but Chautauqua is designed to welcome curiosity—not expertise.
Whether you have studied the subject before or are encountering it for the first time, you are invited into the conversation.
-
Why Is Discussion-Based Learning Important?
Discussion-based learning gives students and adults the opportunity to practice skills that are essential far beyond the classroom.
Through thoughtful conversation, participants learn to:
- Ask meaningful questions
- Listen carefully to different perspectives
- Support ideas with evidence from a text
- Think critically and independently
- Build on the ideas of others
- Express their own thoughts clearly
- Remain curious when there is no simple answer
At Academe of the Oaks, these experiences are part of a broader approach to education that values intellectual curiosity, creative expression, meaningful experiences, and personal growth.
The History Behind the Chautauqua Tradition
The Chautauqua movement grew from a small community in western New York into a broader tradition of bringing education, arts, lectures, and cultural experiences to communities.
Its influence eventually inspired traveling “Tent Chautauquas,” which brought speakers, artists, and entertainment to communities across rural America.
Academe’s Chautauqua Saturdays are offered in that same spirit: a love of intellectual stimulation and a desire to cultivate the habit of thought.
We believe learning should remain alive beyond the classroom—and that meaningful questions are even more valuable when explored together.
Join Us for Chautauqua Saturday
Our first Chautauqua of the school year is scheduled for:
Saturday, September 26
10:00 a.m.
Academe of the OaksCoffee and pastries will be served.
Parents and guardians are invited to read the assigned text, bring their curiosity, and join the conversation.
Sign up for Chautauqua Saturday here: https://evite.me/89rsYpgU2k
At Academe of the Oaks, education is not simply about arriving at the right answer. It is about learning how to ask better questions—and discovering what can happen when we explore them together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chautauqua at Academe of the Oaks
What is a Chautauqua Saturday?
A Chautauqua Saturday at Academe of the Oaks is a community discussion based on an assigned reading and led using the Socratic Seminar model. Participants explore ideas together through questions, conversation, and close attention to the text.
Do I need to be an expert on the reading?
No. No previous knowledge of the subject or author is required. Outside research is not expected.
What should I do before attending?
Read the assigned text in advance and come prepared to share your own ideas, questions, and observations.
Who can attend Chautauqua Saturdays at Academe of the Oaks?
Parents and guardians are invited to participate in the Chautauqua experience.
What makes Chautauqua part of experiential education?
Participants actively engage with primary texts and ideas rather than passively receiving information. Through discussion, questioning, and reflection, learning becomes a shared experience.
Where is Academe of the Oaks?
Academe of the Oaks is a private school serving students and families in the greater Atlanta area, including Decatur and surrounding communities.
Interested in learning more about Academe of the Oaks? Contact us today.