An Interview with Thomas Hardy

by Gordon Nary

Gordon: Where did you go to college and what did you study in college?

Tom: I studied Math at Cornell University and Chemistry at Roosevelt University.  I then did graduate work in Math Education at the University of Chicago.

Gordon: How would you characterize your teaching career?

Tom: I started teaching in a public high school in a suburb of Chicago, and then after two years, joined up with a start-up independent Catholic high school. After that, I worked in several independent Catholic schools as a teacher and headmaster. 

Gordon: What did you teach?

Tom: Mathematics, Chemistry and Physical Science

Gordon: What can you say about independent Catholic schools? 

Tom: There is what I would call an independent “Catholic school movement” that began in the mid-1970s, started by parents and educators to provide a classical education, mostly unavailable at the time.  There are now hundreds of these schools throughout the US.

Gordon: What other jobs did you have?

Tom: I worked in other business enterprises to afford raising nine children, but I always returned to teaching, which was my favorite occupation.

Gordon: Tell me something about your family?

Tom: I have nine of the best children in the world!  They are all successful at their various occupations, and eight of the nine are happily married, with one single.  I have 26 grandchildren. 

Gordon: What have you written?  What are you writing?

Tom: I have written a Physical Science textbook, a book on Catholic school governance, a children’s book, and am hoping to publish a book on the philosophy/theology of the concept of gift. I am also working on a book on the virtue of poverty for Catholic parents.

Gordon: What are your favorite books?

Tom: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Shop Class as Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford

Gordon: Thank you for a great Interview.