By Don Lowe
In just a short seven years since officially unveiling its higher purpose, St. Martin’s Academy boarding school for young men (ages 14-18 years old) in Fort Scott, Kansas, continues to remain fervently focused on raising up individuals who have their eyes completely focused on developing an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus Christ.
President of St. Martin’s Academy Daniel Kerr says, “It sounds grandiose, but our mission is the cultivation of saints. That’s what we hope for from our young men. Saints are people fully alive, fully ‘switched on’ and firing on all cylinders – in body, mind and soul – who are cooperating with the supernatural gifts of God’s grace.
“Saints are the true agents of change in history. If we hope to make the world a better place, we need to set our sights on forming people like Mother Theresa, or more locally, like Emil Kapaun, Stanley Rother and Rose Phillipine Duschene.”
Bringing it full circle, Kerr says, “I think the best image for education is described in the ‘Parable of the Sower.’ A seed is planted within each of us. Will it take root? Will it grow? Education, rightly understood, is about helping get the soil right. We view ourselves at St. Martin’s as cultivators of the soil.”
As for this original vision, Kerr says, “The Holy Ghost came up with the idea and I’ve done my best to cooperate with His inspiration. I attended a boys’ boarding school (St. Gregory’s Academy) my junior and senior years in high school.
“It changed my life profoundly – it was the proverbial paradigm shift – completely changing the way I viewed the world and my own life. The idea of starting a school has been on my heart for more than 25 years.”
Going further into the thought process, Kerr says, “We all have an instinct to share the things we love, especially those deepest things we know in our bones to be true and good and beautiful. There’s a way, for me, of looking at the world that sees our lives as a wonderful adventure, replete with purpose and meaning.
“I believe we’re each called to greatness, even if it’s doing small things with great love. I believe, as G.K. Chesterton wrote, ‘The Walls of Faith are not the Walls of a Prison, but the Walls of a Playground.’ If we respond to God’s call, we’ll be joyful and fully alive. We’ll be happy.”
Still delving deeper, Kerr says, “Fundamentally, it’s the news of the gospel. It’s good news indeed. Most of us don’t have this perspective unless we’ve been given a special grace or the gift of others in our lives – parents, mentors and teachers – who’ve not only talked the talk but walked the walk, and they’ve shown us the way.
“That’s what a school can do. So, starting this school is my attempt to honor and thank those who did this for me. It is an act of gratitude.”
In describing the students who come here, Kerr says, “We want young men of character who want to embrace a life of servant leadership and hard work. Our number one criterion for admission is good will. I care far less about academic prowess, socio-economic background, etc., than character and ‘want-to.’
“The life of St. Martin’s students isn’t easy – up at 6 a.m. for farm chores and a continuous schedule of work, study and prayer until lights out at 10 p.m. No screens, no media and a scarcity of the familiar creature comforts of modern living. You must sign up for that.”
It’s up to these young men and Kerr says, “We’re not a reform school or military academy. It all rests upon the ‘buy-in’ and cooperation of the boys. This is precisely the life boys instinctively want. They want to do hard things and want challenges. They want to do them together in friendship, within an environment that’s supportive.”
When considering what makes the stay here a success, Kerr says, “To build good soil, St. Martin’s pursues four pedagogical commitments: To Awaken Wonder; To Heal the Imagination; To Nurture Authentic Masculinity; and Develop Attentiveness. Wisdom begins in wonder, and wonder happens naturally when we encounter the majesty and mystery of God’s creation.
“Boys need to be outside more during the day. The engagement with nature helps in healing the imagination. A key intervention at St. Martin’s is we practice technological poverty. It’s a screen-free campus. Our boys don’t have phones or computers. We need to stop outsourcing our imaginations to the entertainment industry.”
It’s sure to be an experience that makes these young men well-rounded, and Kerr says, “The life and culture is integrated into a working farm. We have dairy and beef cattle, sheep and egg-laying and meat chickens. We grow potatoes and sweet potatoes, and a variety of vegetables.
“Much of what the boys consume each meal comes from the daily work of their own hands. By the time our boys are seniors, they’re exercising significant responsibilities on the farm. They’re basically running the farm.”
Elaborating on their maturation, Kerr says, “Boys need responsibility to grow into men. They need to be part of a community and, in this case, a domestic economy, where their contributions are real and purposeful. This gives them confidence to get things done. When they graduate, our young men have a self-possession and confidence that’s rare these days.
“They know the value of a hard day’s work. They can give a proper handshake and look you in the eye. They can dress well and conduct themselves gracefully at an elegant dinner and a night at the symphony. They can recite a poem in front of a crowd, and even butcher a hog.”
Sharing another example, Kerr says, “One of my favorite images comes from Teddy Roosevelt’s famous speech, which has come to be known as ‘The Man in the Arena.’ It’s fabulous.
“I think whatever else is true, our young men and graduates are well prepared and on their way to becoming ‘Men in the Arena.’ They have a habit of taking action, and a relish for doing difficult things.”
Kerr believes it’s vital that this work flourishes, and he says, “The current generation of boys is struggling. Boys are flagging in every statistical category related to health, education and employment. They’re anxious and depressed. I think St. Martin’s is important because we’re doing something about it.
“We’re proposing a solution, and I’m delighted that the solution works and works marvelously. If you want to see a happy, healthy, thriving young man, come visit St. Martin’s. I hope to be part of the foundation of many more such schools in the coming years and decades.”
It’s easy to see Kerr is ecstatic to be part of this effort, and he continues, “I think we have the best faculty on the planet. I’m proud of my team and proud of my students.
“If I were given a billion dollars and could do whatever I wanted, I wouldn’t do one thing differently, except start more schools. It’s a tremendous blessing when, to quote Robert Frost, your ‘vocation and your avocation are one.’”
St. Martin’s Academy (Fort Scott, Kansas) Fast Facts
Starting Point: St. Martin’s opened its doors in 2018 with 17 students hailing from 10 states.
Present Day: In the 2024-25 school year, there are about 70 students from about 20 states.
Leadership: Patrick Whalen, co- founder and original headmaster, who now serves as CEO of the American Classical Education, and Daniel Kerr, St. Martin’s Academy president
Students: Boys range from 14 to18 years old for this four-year program. Quite a few are from the Four-State Area, and some come across the country, from California to Texas to Florida to Maine. The top three cities represented are Kansas City, Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Phone Number: 620.644.9870
Email address: [email protected]
Physical Address: St. Martin’s Academy, 1950 Indian Road, Fort Scott, Kansas
Website: https://saintmartinsacademy.org/