From its inception, The Schola was envisioned as more than just a journal. It was conceived as a formative space – a place dedicated to the principle that school is a universal force for boundless becoming. The name The Schola was chosen deliberately to reflect the rich history and profound meaning behind that ideal. The word’s own journey through time, from ancient leisure to modern scholarship, mirrors the very mission we undertake today.

The word schola has its roots in the Greek skholē (σχολή), which originally meant “leisure.” In the ancient world, leisure was not idleness. It was precious time free from labor, a space that could be dedicated entirely to intellectual pursuits, philosophical discussion, and the cultivation of the self. This foundational idea – that deep thought requires the time and space to flourish – is at the heart of our respect for every student. We honor the dedication it takes to carve out that leisure from a busy life and devote it to the rigorous work of scholarship.

As intellectual activity became more communal, the meaning of schola evolved. It grew from the activity itself to describe the people involved: a group of disciples following a teacher, a professional guild united by a common craft, or most importantly, a “school of thought” bound by shared principles. This reflects our vision for The Schola as the hub of a global community. It is a place where young scholars connect not just with us, but with each other, entering into a “greater conversation” and forming a new, emerging school of thought defined by its commitment to rigorous inquiry.

In later Roman and Medieval times, schola came to signify elite, disciplined groups dedicated to a shared standard of excellence – from the Scholae Palatinae, the emperor’s imperial guards, to the Schola Cantorum, the church’s master singers who preserved sacred musical traditions. The name was chosen to honor this legacy of disciplined and purposeful pursuit. It signals our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of excellence and to weaving the insights of emerging scholars into the very fabric of academic thought.

Today, The Schola embraces every layer of this rich history. It is a space that honors the leisure required for deep thought. It is a community of emerging scholars dedicated to a shared standard of excellence. And above all, it is a new kind of school of thought, where the most precious and impactful moments in a young scholar’s intellectual journey are respected and find their permanent place in the greater conversation. The name is not just our title; it is our philosophy made manifest.