Latest

Classical education and AI could reshape how America prepares its children

Published

5 hours ago

May 18, 2026

There’s a revolution underway in American education, and First Lady Melania Trump and the White House are leading the way.

They’re taking America’s dismal reading and education numbers head-on, as well as the challenge of getting our children ready for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

Melania Trump launched her “Foster the Future” summit on March 24, to highlight how AI can expand children’s opportunities as a learning tool rather than as a threat or a crutch.

Among the leading attendees was the CEO of Alpha Schools, MacKenzie Price. Alpha Schools is a private company establishing schools across the country, working to encourage children to see AI as their partner and guide in learning, as well as supporting the key “life skills” needed to live a full and productive life.

FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP: AI COULD IMPROVE TEACHING AND HELP DELIVER A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION TO OUR CHILDREN

As fears grow that AI may be taking over our culture as well as our economy; and that our kids may not be equipped to deal with the challenges AI will pose; the White House needs to know it has a powerful ally in the educational movement that’s sweeping the country right now.

That movement embodies the reasoning and understanding future generations will need to protect themselves from manipulation and misinformation, as well as to prosper, in an AI-dominated world.

Called the Classical Education movement, it is being led by teachers, educators, parents and philosophers who are fed up with our schools becoming indoctrination factories for socialism. And unlike education advocates on the left, they are committed to advancing the interests of every child — rich and poor, and from every ethnicity and background — as well as the advancing the future of Western civilization itself.

WHY A CLASSICAL EDUCATION MAY BE THE KEY TO HUMANITY’S FUTURE IN THE AI ERA

Classical education is a content-rich approach to learning, emphasizing the development of wisdom and virtue through the study of the liberal arts, starting with grammar, logic, and rhetoric, and expanding to history and great literature.

This is the curriculum that has supported Western and Judeo-Christian civilization for thousands of years. Rather than a scatter-shot system of superficial electives or an overfocus on skills for job training or professional career preparation, Classical education rests on a bedrock of traditional academic subjects and the Great Books. It seeks to educate the whole child and cultivate an appetite for lifelong learning; build a deep respect for traditional principles of right and wrong; and teach the importance of citizenship and leadership.

Classical education upholds the saying of the Greek philosopher Epictetus, that “Only the educated are free.” It believes education must be about teaching children to appreciate the good, the true and the beautiful, and the best of what America and Western civilization has to offer.

SCHOOL CHOICE IS BOOMING AND FAMILIES ARE WINNING AS THE EDUCATION CARTEL CRUMBLES

There are currently over 1,500 classical education schools (public, private and charter) in the United States serving roughly 700,000 students as of 2024. And the movement is experiencing rapid growth, with over 250 new schools opening since 2020.

From early learners up to university students, this private initiative has filled the educational gap left by government schools and their teachers unions, where students are too often denied actual learning, and teachers use the classroom to advance their own political agenda.

Instead of indoctrinating our children with ideological and agenda-based material, classical education strives to teach the child how, as opposed to what, to think.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

If there are indeed any skills that can prepare younger generations for the future, and can supplement and support the most advanced classroom technologies, including the use of AI, they are the time-honored principles of classical education.

We know Alpha Schools is taking a revolutionary approach to the school day with accelerated learning with AI as a guide for looking more deeply into subjects of interest such as history and geometry. Then afternoons are dedicated to “life skills,” from riding a bike (for the youngest) to how to manage a bank account, and even how to start a business (for the oldest).

Reading, writing, and reasoning — the key ingredients in the classical education curriculum — are as essential to leading a strong and happy life, as financial investment or running an Airbnb. So why not include “life skills” such as learning the principles of grammar and rhetoric as generations of students have done? Why not study the timeless principles of Plato, Aristotle and our greatest Judeo-Christian thinkers, as well as great American writers such as Mark Twain, Stephen Crane and E.B. White, in the curriculum for getting our children ready to meet the technological world to come?

In short, classical education offers a major opportunity for Fostering the Future, and the rest of us, to see an AI-dominated world more optimistically — and to see America’s children as our greatest intellectual asset.

Beth Herman is a visiting fellow at Independent Women’s Education Freedom Center. She is a school docent at The National Gallery of Art and is completing her degree in Classical Education at the University of Dallas.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ARTHUR HERMAN

Latest

Tim Walz’ Gun-Control Bill Goes Down In Flames Despite Dems’ Sit-In Protest

Published

51 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

Addison Blake

‘We’ve greatly appreciated Speaker Demuth’s unwavering defense of the Second Amendment’

Latest

EXCLUSIVE: California Treasurer Has Long History Hobnobbing With Chinese Gov’t And CCP Intel Officials

Published

51 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

Addison Blake

EXCLUSIVE: There’s Something You Need To Know About California’s Treasurer

Latest

Papa Johns drone delivery skips the pizza

Published

51 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

Addison Blake

Your next Papa Johns order could soon drop from the sky. Just do not expect a large pepperoni pizza to come floating down yet.

Papa Johns has launched a drone delivery test with Wing, the drone company owned by Alphabet. The first flights are happening near Sun Valley Commons in Indian Trail, North Carolina, outside Charlotte. Eligible customers can order through the Wing app and receive a limited menu of Papa Johns Oven Toasted Sandwiches, including Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Bacon Ranch and Steak & Mushroom.

Even though Little Caesars is already testing drone delivery for full-size pizzas in Texas, Papa Johns is taking a different route: sandwiches first. For now, the company is using a smaller, drone-friendly menu while it works with Wing on aerodynamically designed packaging that could help future pizza orders fly more smoothly.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

UBER EATS TAKES FLIGHT WITH DRONE DELIVERIES

A sandwich box is compact. A pizza box is wide, flat and fussy. Anyone who has ever carried a pizza home on the passenger seat of their vehicle knows the rule. Keep it level or prepare for a cheese landslide. That same problem gets trickier when a drone is involved. Drones have payload limits. They also need packages that fit their delivery systems and stay stable during flight.

That helps explain why Papa Johns is starting with sandwiches. Wing says the companies are also working on custom, aerodynamic packaging informed by both Papa Johns and Wing. In other words, the sandwich test may be the starting point, while the companies figure out how to package food for future drone delivery. So, for now, the sky is open for toasted sandwiches. The pizza has to wait.

The test is limited to residents near Sun Valley Commons in Indian Trail, North Carolina. Eligible customers can place orders through the Wing app and choose from a curated menu of Papa Johns Oven Toasted Sandwiches. Charlotte-area residents can check delivery eligibility and sign up for updates through Wing’s delivery page at wing.com/get-delivery

For now, customers order through Wing. However, the longer-term plan is to connect Wing’s drone network directly with Papa Johns’ own app and its proprietary AI-powered food ordering agent, powered by Google Cloud. That could eventually make drone delivery feel less like a separate test and more like another delivery option inside the Papa Johns ordering experience. Wing says the goal goes beyond one restaurant test. This is Wing’s first direct partnership with a national restaurant brand. It also builds on Papa Johns’ existing relationship with Alphabet through Google Cloud. The company sees the partnership as a way to build a broader model for AI-powered restaurant ordering and drone delivery.

“This partnership is a true collaboration, bringing together Wing’s pioneering technology and Papa Johns commitment to innovation,” said Heather Rivera, Chief Business Officer at Wing. “Together, we are defining a new blueprint for how agentic commerce and industry-leading operational design will shape the future of food delivery.”

Papa Johns says the effort is about building the future of hot delivery. That means more than strapping food to a drone. Workers need to prepare orders differently. Restaurants need space for pickup. The packaging has to survive the trip. The technology also has to fit into a busy lunch or dinner rush without slowing the store down. That last part may be the real test. A drone delivery system only works if it helps during the chaos, not after it.

ROBOTS ARE TAKING OVER UBER EATS DELIVERIES. IS YOUR CITY NEXT?

Pizza seems perfect for fast delivery. It is hot, familiar and often ordered by people who want food quickly. Yet pizza boxes create several problems for drone companies. A pizza box has a large surface area. That can affect stability. The box also needs to stay flat. A sandwich can tolerate a little movement. A hot pizza with melted cheese and toppings cannot.

That is why other companies have been working on bigger drones and special delivery setups. Flytrex recently announced a partnership with Little Caesars in Wylie, Texas, using its Sky2 drone. The company says the drone can carry up to 8.8 pounds, travel up to four miles and deliver up to two large pizzas with drinks. That shows pizza delivery by drone can happen. It also shows why Papa Johns may be taking a slower path.

Drone delivery has been talked about for years, but it still feels rare for many communities. Wing already works with companies such as Walmart and DoorDash, and it has expanded service in several metro areas.

Still, the business has to clear several hurdles. The weather can disrupt flights. Regulations can limit how drones operate. Restaurants have to train staff. Customers also need to live in the right delivery zone. Then there is the money. A drone can look amazing in a promo video. The tougher question is whether each delivery makes financial sense when the system runs every day.

MAN VS MACHINE: PHILADELPHIANS AREN’T TAKING KINDLY TO SHARING SIDEWALKS WITH DELIVERY ROBOTS

If you live near the test area, this could be a fun way to try a faster food delivery option. It may also give you a preview of where takeout is heading. However, drone delivery will probably roll out in small steps. At least at first. Customers need to live in the right delivery zone, order through the right app and choose items the drone system can carry safely.

The bigger shift could come later. If Wing’s system connects directly with the Papa Johns app, customers may eventually see drone delivery as one more option at checkout. That would make the experience feel much more normal than opening a separate drone app just to order lunch. For customers, the biggest benefits could be speed and convenience. A drone can avoid traffic, parking issues and some of the delays that hit traditional delivery during peak hours.

At the same time, there are practical questions. People may wonder about noise, safety, privacy and whether drones belong over our neighborhoods. Those concerns will no doubt grow as more restaurants join in.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: CyberGuy.com

Papa Johns flying sandwiches instead of pizza feels a little backwards at first. After all, it is a pizza chain. But once you think about a hot pie bouncing around under a drone, the sandwich-first approach starts to make sense. The company gets to test the tech, customers get a faster delivery option and the pizza stays with the regular delivery crew until the drone setup can handle a hot pie without turning it into a cheesy mess.

If drone delivery becomes common, would you be excited to get dinner dropped from the sky, or would all those buzzing drones over your neighborhood drive you crazy? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report