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 devotion that turns leisure into the discipline of learning.

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, an organized body bound by shared practice, or most importantly, a “school of thought” bound by shared principles. This reflects our vision for The Schola as a place where young scholars join a broader intellectual tradition, contributing to a “greater conversation” through their own pursuit of rigorous inquiry.

In later Roman and Medieval times, schola came to signify distinguished, disciplined groups – often elite in their purpose and standing – 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 embodies our vision of weaving the insights of emerging scholars into the 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 each scholar’s most meaningful work finds its lasting place in the life of ideas. The name is not just our title; it is our philosophy made manifest.