Roy Peachey

Slow Education: an extract from ‘Out of the Classroom and Into the World’

A lecturer in the department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge once told me that the question she is most often asked is, “How long did it take you to learn Chinese?” Her reply to this unanswerable question was always “I don’t know, because I’m still learning.” Much the sameContinue reading “Slow Education: an extract from ‘Out of the Classroom and Into the World’”

Dogs in Literature

Here’s a 7-minute podcast I recorded while on my morning dog walk. (The dogs didn’t seem to mind too much.) If this embedded player doesn’t work, click on this link instead.

More thoughts on the spectacular

Sight and blindness, both literal and metaphorical, are key themes in my novel, Between Darkness and Light. In this passage, for example, we see what Wang Weijun now experiences, having lost one eye in a childish game of William Tell:

An intriguing painting: an intriguing story

This is ‘The Calling of Saint Matthew’ painted in 1661 by Juan de Pareja. Who he?

A remarkable picture with a remarkable story

What do you make of this picture from the Prado? Anyone want to speculate on who painted it? Or its style? I’m not going to say any more about it for the moment but will post a few comments in a couple of days time.

Fishing for Koi with an Afghan Veteran

Since I’m focusing on Slow Education at the moment, I thought it might be worth reposting this article I wrote for First Things a while back: Throwing my bags into the car, I waved my wife and children a hasty goodbye and then reversed out of the drive, automatically turning on the radio as I went.Continue reading “Fishing for Koi with an Afghan Veteran”

Exciting news about my first children’s novel

I’m really delighted to announce that the wonderful Cranachan is going to be publishing my first children’s novel next year. I’ll write more soon but here’s the press release: Scottish publisher Cranachan has signed author Roy Peachey to its middle-grade imprint, Pokey Hat, for his debut children’s title, The Race. The dual narrative, which willContinue reading “Exciting news about my first children’s novel”

The Catechism on Divine Pedagogy

52 God, who “dwells in unapproachable light”, wants to communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created, in order to adopt them as his sons in his only-begotten Son. By revealing himself God wishes to make them capable of responding to him, and of knowing him and of loving him far beyondContinue reading “The Catechism on Divine Pedagogy”

Please join me for Afternoon Tea

On Wednesday 13th May at 3pm, I’ll be at Merstham Library (virtually of course) to answer questions about my novel, Between Darkness and Light, and to read an extract from the book. I’ll send out further details closer to the date and hope you can join me there!

Teaching us gradually – an extract from one of my books

In The Creed in Slow Motion, Ronald Knox points out that “if it was an astonishing thing that our Lord should die, equally it was an astonishing thing that he should stay dead”.[1] We take it for granted that he stayed dead for three days but it is certainly not an event that could possiblyContinue reading “Teaching us gradually – an extract from one of my books”

Hilda van Stockum on parenting and education

“I think we ought to start a nursery school on Saturdays.” [said Joan.] “How?” asked Peter. “We could use Timmy’s yard and play games with them. And we could educate them too. I’ve got a very interesting book. It says a lot about discipline. I don’t think Mother has ever read it,” Joan added reflectively.Continue reading “Hilda van Stockum on parenting and education”

My latest article for Catholic World Report

Here’s my latest article for Catholic World Report, ‘After the Crisis: Encouragement from the Bacon Priest’, in which I write about Fr Werenfried van Straaten’s inspiring response to the problems of his day.

My latest article for UnHerd

Here’s my latest article for UnHerd in which I write about education during and after the lockdown, industrial and slow education, and the importance of leisure.

Snapshots of Spring

Aristotle on Classical Education

“The customary branches of education are in number four; they are – (1) reading and writing, (2) gymnastic exercises, (3) music, to which is sometimes added (4) drawing.” Politics, Book VIII, Chapter 3

Catching up on reading under lockdown

The dignity of old men

One of the pleasures of lockdown is the opportunity to play family board games. We dug out a very old box containing the Catholic Family Bible Game, which contained questions like the following: According to Proverbs, “The glory of young men is their strength, and the dignity of old men is _________________.” (a) weakness (b)Continue reading “The dignity of old men”

Naught for Your Comfort

G K Chesterton’s The Ballad of the White Horse is a poem about King Alfred. Alfred the Great. But the ballad begins when Alfred is at his lowest ebb. Having been defeated by the Vikings, he wanders alone.

Creating a nature journal

A few days ago I wrote about why we might want to create nature journals. Today I’m going to share a few thoughts about what could be included in those journals.

Poetry, nature and freedom

I wrote about nature journalling the other day, but how is that possible if you are confined to the house? The great, but horribly neglected, poet, Norman Nicholson has an answer for us because he was confined to his room in Millom after being struck down with tuberculosis. Lying there on the edge of theContinue reading “Poetry, nature and freedom”