2. Professional education
- Professional education is anything from apprenticeship & trade
schools to law, medical & MBA schools. These
programs create specialists by teaching them
when to think.
The professional system is
similar to public education, but on a competitive level. Standards
are set by the highest 10-15% to enter these programs. But once you
are in the program, you must hop back on the conveyor belt for
several years until you receive another diploma. Of course this
type of education is mandated so you can really learn the
profession.
Any of this sound familiar??
3. Leadership education
(Jefferson education) - Leadership education teaches students
how to think
and prepares them to be leaders in their homes & communities,
entrepreneurs in business, and statesmen in government. ***This is
the type of education that I want for my children and I would guess
most of you want for your children. It encourages thinking outside
the box, which is difficult for most Americans (not as difficult for
homeschoolers :-)
Throughout history, leaders have
been homeschooled by mentors and tutors. Then they move on to prep
schools and study the classics by using the mentors approach. It is
the mentor system that creates leaders. Unfortunately the leaders
in America have been trained to be professionals and specialists -
not leaders. Most of our nation consists of followers who do not
have a problem with the system at hand. If our children are
to overcome this dilemna, we must train them to be entrepreneurs and
statesmen by the historically-proven methods for training leaders.
Keys to Leadership
Education
-Time
Students need time to adequately
learn. To have adequate time, one must have structure throughout
the day and week. For most parents, they revert back to their
school days and "structure" their day according to public education
(you know, that conveyor-belt). Please realize that setting up
public school is a great source of frustration for most homeschool
parents and it does not train your children
how to think.
Students will never become leaders by
following the model of our current public education system.
Structure is necessary to give your child the time he needs to
adequately learn. If you set a structure in your home to study 5
days a week for 5 hours a day, your child will have adequate time to
read and study. Obviously, this particular schedule is geared more
for older students. Younger students do not need 5 hours a day to
study.
-Mentors
-Classics
Mentors and classics can not be
separated in leadership education because learning
how to think
is accomplished by discussing the classics with a mentor. Mentors
may not always be physically present while studying, but they must
interact often. Mentors read the classic that the student is
reading. Both student and mentor keep a reading journal, writing
about key concepts from the classic. In a homeschool setting, a
daily discussion of the classic can occur. A typical day may
include math study the first hour, essay writing/discussion with a
mentor the last hour of the day and time for free study in the
middle of the day. Students need freedom to read, study and
experiment. For centuries this type of education has provided the
necessary knowledge, traits and skills for leaders. It is by far
the best training for leadership roles, professional training and
life itself!
As DeMille discusses leadership
education throughout his book, he encourages you to find or be a
mentor to your children as you read the classics. Most of us are
familiar with the history and literature classics, but classics can
be found to deal with all subjects in life. Classics are available
to learn all necessary subject areas. As Americans we are worried
about learning the sciences and technological information. Well,
there are classics in science - Newton's Principia Mathematics,
for one. I would not suggest starting with that one, but know it is
there when the time comes to study mathematics classically.
After reading A
Thomas Jefferson Education, I am inspired to become
that mentor for my own children. We read classics all the time, but
we do not always discuss them at the level I believe is beneficial
for my children to learn how
to think. DeMille outlines a program to help
parents get up to speed. It is the adult's education that must come
first. YOU must become a good teacher and mentor before
affecting your child's education. Since most of us did not receive
a leadership education, we must provide one for ourselves. This
summer is the time I have chosen to begin my leadership education.
Summer is the PERFECT TIME to begin leadership education.
Why don't you start your leadership education this summer, as well?
Begin by reading A Thomas Jefferson Education.
Then follow the two-month plan for parents as outlined in the
back of the book. By the end of two months, you will be ready to
start with your kids.
