Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22

                           ASSUMPTION OF DEED OF TRUST
                           AND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

     THIS ASSUMPTION OF DEED OF TRUST AND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT (this
"Agreement") is made as of July 12, 2002 by and between AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL
PRODUCTS LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ("Trustor") (successor in
interest to American Educational Products, Inc., a Colorado corporation
("Original Trustor")), having an address of 401 Hickory Drive, Fort Collins,
Colorado 80524 and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as administrative agent for the
Lenders ("Agent"), having an address of 231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60697 with respect to the following Recitals:

                                R E C I T A L S:

     A.   Original Trustor has previously executed and delivered for the benefit
of Agent that certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Assignment of Rents and
Leases and Fixture Filing dated August 21, 2001 (the "Security Instrument") and
recorded on September 4, 2001 as Document No. 2001078041 in the Official Records
of Larimer County, Colorado (the "Official Records") which encumbers the Land
described therein and on EXHIBIT A attached hereto. All initially-capitalized
terms not defined herein shall have their meaning as set forth in the Security
Instrument.

     B.   The Security Instrument secures, among other things, Original
Trustor's obligations under the Credit Agreement.

     C.   Nasco International, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation ("Nasco") and Agent
have entered into that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement (Five Year) and Consent dated June 17, 2002 (the "Credit Agreement
Amendment"). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement Amendment, Agent has, among other
things, conditionally consented to Nasco's merging (the "Merger") into The
Aristotle Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Aristotle") and Original
Trustor's conversion into Trustor (the "Conversion"). Pursuant to the Credit
Agreement Amendment, among other things, Aristotle is executing an Assumption
Agreement whereby Aristotle is assuming all of Nasco's obligations under the
Loan Documents.

     D.   Pursuant to the Credit Agreement Amendment, among other things, Agent
has required Trustor to enter into this Agreement.

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, the mutual
     covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable
     consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
     acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

     1.   ASSUMPTION

          Trustor acknowledges that it has acquired or will acquire concurrently
     herewith the fee simple interest of Original Trustor in and to the Land and
     hereby accepts and assumes the

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     obligations and duties of Original Trustor in, to and under the Security
     Instrument, whether occurring before or after the date of this Agreement.
     Trustor acknowledges and agrees that it holds or will hold fee simple title
     to the Land, together with all rights and interests appurtenant thereto,
     subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the charge and lien of the
     Security Instrument and that it shall be bound by all of the terms,
     conditions and covenants contained therein and herein.

     2.   MODIFICATION OF SECURITY INSTRUMENT

          The Security Instrument is hereby modified to (i) reflect the
     assumption set forth in this Agreement, (ii) provide that all references to
     the Credit Agreement in the Security Instrument shall mean the Credit
     Agreement as amended as of the date hereof, including by the Credit
     Agreement Amendment, and as the same may be further modified in the future,
     (iii) provide that all of the obligations under the Loan Documents as
     modified by this Agreement are the obligations of Trustor as if Trustor is
     named therein, and (iv) reflect that the Credit Agreement Amendment and
     this Agreement constitute Loan Documents.

     3.   TITLE ENDORSEMENT

          Concurrently with the recording of this Agreement, Trustor shall cause
     to be delivered to Agent at Trustor's, Nasco's and/or Aristotle's sole cost
     and expense a CLTA 110.5 endorsement (or Colorado equivalent), in form and
     substance acceptable to Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, to
     Agent's existing title policy relating to the Security Instrument.

     4.   GOVERNING LAW

          This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
     accordance with, the laws of the State of Colorado.

     5.   COUNTERPARTS

          This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
     which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and
     all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute but one and the
     same instrument. Signature and acknowledgment pages may be detached from
     the counterparts and attached to a single copy of this Agreement to
     physically form one document, which may be recorded.

                                       2
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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                 TRUSTOR:

                                 AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS LLC
                                 a Colorado limited liability company
                                 (successor-in-interest to American
                                 Educational Products, Inc., a Colorado
                                 corporation)

                                 By:  /s/ Steven B. Lapin
                                      -------------------
                                      Its: President and Chief Operating Officer

                                 AGENT:

                                 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders

                                 By: /s/ David Johanson
                                     ------------------
                                     Its: Vice President

                                       3
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                                                                       [TRUSTOR]

STATE OF ___________          )
                              )        ss.
COUNTY OF ________________    )

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me on this ____ day of
July 2002, by __________________ as ____________________________ of AMERICAN
EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS LLC, a Colorado limited liability company.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal.

     My commission expires ___________________.

(SEAL)

                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Notary Public

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                                                                         [AGENT]

STATE OF ___________          )
                              )        ss.
COUNTY OF ________________    )

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me on this ____ day of
July 2002, by __________________ as ____________________________ of Bank of
America, N.A., a _______________________, as administrative agent for the
Lenders.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal.

     My commission expires ___________________.

(SEAL)

                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Notary Public<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23

                           ASSUMPTION OF DEED OF TRUST
                           AND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

      THIS ASSUMPTION OF DEED OF TRUST AND MODIFICATION AGREEMENT (this
"Agreement") is made as of July 12, 2002 by and between THE ARISTOTLE
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Trustor"), successor-by-merger to NASCO
INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Wisconsin corporation ("Nasco"), and BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders ("Agent"), with respect to the
following Recitals:

                                R E C I T A L S:

      A.    Nasco has previously executed and delivered for the benefit of Agent
that certain Second Amended and Restated Deed of Trust, Security Agreement,
Assignment of Rents and Leases and Fixture Filing dated August 21, 2001 (the
"Security Instrument") and recorded on August 31, 2001 as Document No.
2001-0103604-00 in the Official Records of Stanislaus County, California (the
"Official Records") which encumbers the Land described therein and described on
EXHIBIT A attached hereto. All initially-capitalized terms not defined herein
shall have their meaning as set forth in the Security Instrument.

      B.    The Security Instrument secures, among other things, Nasco's
obligations under the Credit Agreements.

      C.    Nasco and Agent have entered into (i) that certain First Amendment
to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Five Year) and Consent dated June 17,
2002 and (ii) that certain Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement (364 Days) and Consent dated June 17, 2002 (collectively, the "Credit
Agreement Amendments"). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement Amendments, Agent has,
among other things, conditionally consented to Nasco's merging into Trustor (the
"Merger"). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement Amendments, among other things,
Trustor is executing an Assumption Agreement whereby Trustor is assuming all of
Nasco's obligations under the Loan Documents.

      D.    Pursuant to the Credit Agreement Amendments, among other things,
Agent has required Trustor to enter into this Agreement.

            NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, the
      mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and
      valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
      acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

      1.    ASSUMPTION

            Trustor acknowledges that it has acquired or will acquire
      concurrently herewith the fee simple interest of Nasco in and to the Land
      and hereby accepts and assumes the obligations and duties of Nasco in, to
      and under the Security Instrument, whether occurring before or after the
      date of this Agreement. Trustor acknowledges and agrees that it holds or
      will hold fee simple title to the Land, together with all rights and
      interests appurtenant thereto, subject to the provisions of

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      this Agreement and the charge and lien of the Security Instrument and that
      it shall be bound by all of the terms, conditions and covenants contained
      therein and herein.

      2.    MODIFICATION OF SECURITY INSTRUMENT

            The Security Instrument is hereby modified to (i) reflect the
      assignment and assumption set forth in this Agreement, (ii) provide that
      all references to the Credit Agreements, the Credit Agreement (Five Year)
      and the Credit Agreement (364 Days) in the Security Instrument shall mean,
      respectively, the Credit Agreements, the Credit Agreement (Five Year) and
      the Credit Agreement (364 Days) as amended as of the date hereof,
      including by the Credit Agreement Amendments, and as the same may be
      further modified in the future, (iii) provide that all of the obligations
      under the Loan Documents as modified by this Agreement are the obligations
      of Trustor as if Trustor is named therein, and (iv) reflect that the
      Credit Agreement Amendments and this Agreement constitute Loan Documents.

      3.    TITLE ENDORSEMENT

            Concurrently with the recording of this Agreement, Trustor shall
      cause to be delivered to Agent at Trustor's sole cost and expense a CLTA
      110.5 endorsement, in form and substance acceptable to Agent in its sole
      and absolute discretion, to Agent's existing title policy relating to the
      Security Instrument.

      4.    GOVERNING LAW

            This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
      accordance with, the laws of the State of California.

      5.    COUNTERPARTS

            This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
      of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original
      and all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute but one and
      the same instrument. Signature and acknowledgment pages may be detached
      from the counterparts and attached to a single copy of this Agreement to
      physically form one document, which may be recorded.

                                       2

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                TRUSTOR:

                                THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION,
                                a Delaware corporation (successor-by-merger
                                to Nasco International Inc., a Wisconsin
                                corporation)

                                By: /s/ Steven B. Lapin
                                    --------------------
                                     Its: President and Chief Operating Officer
                                          -------------------------------------

                                AGENT:

                                BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders

                                By: /s/ David Johanson
                                    -------------------
                                     Its: Vice President
                                          --------------

                                       3

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                                                                       [TRUSTOR]

STATE OF _______________   )
                           )       SS
COUNTY OF ___________      )

      On _____________________ before me, _________________ personally appeared
_________________________________ personally known to me or proved to me on the
basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are
subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they
executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by
his/her/their signatures(s) on the instrument the persons(s), or the entity upon
behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

                                   Witness my hand and official seal.

                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Signature of Notary

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                                                                         [AGENT]

STATE OF ____________      )
                           )       SS
COUNTY OF ___________      )

      On _____________________ before me, _________________ personally appeared
_________________________________ personally known to me or proved to me on the
basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are
subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they
executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by
his/her/their signatures(s) on the instrument the persons(s), or the entity upon
behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

                                   Witness my hand and official seal.

                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Signature of Notary

                                       2

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