A Thomas Jefferson Education

As part of my research phase to find the right fit for my family, I checked A Thomas Jefferson Education out of the library.  This book is behind the TJed movement.  It focuses on using the classics to educate your children, and yourself, just like Thomas Jefferson did.  

I was very pleased with how this book was written.  It was very positive, and easy to read.  It is a book that I will probably read many times.  It is a book that I recommend everyone read because we all can learn from it.  Reading/learning from the classics really resonates with my husband and I.  We will end up implementing a lot of the concepts in our lifestyle.   

There wasn't a lot of guidance in how someone should approach implementing the ideas, but that is where the website and discussion boards become useful.  There are plenty of forums to help you with ideas, and lots of book lists.  I am a little unsure of how the math would be taught, but I guess that will come as we go.  

Here are a few of the quotes that I really liked from the book:

"Teaching, not education, should be our focus because great teaching inspires students to educate themselves." -Oliver DeMille

I believe this quote to be quite powerful.  I have had some great inspiring teachers (oddly enough they were literature teachers) that have left a lasting impression with me.  These teachers are the ones that kindled my love of learning.  

"If the purpose is to train leaders, it's important not to force the young person through their learning experiences.  Force in learning kills the spirit, dampens the passion and destroys the zest and life learning.  Force trains followers, not leaders."  -Oliver DeMille

I believe that everyone has had an experience where they are forced to learn something.  It doesn't foster a love of learning, and it kills it.  There are other avenues to try if something doesn't work.  One should never be forced to learn something.  Granter, there are times when things have to be learned, but it should never be forced.  

"Question, probe, ponder, think, discuss, write, apply."  -Oliver DeMille 

A lot of the TJed philosophy deals with the idea of mentoring.  This is what this last quote refers to.  I like the way the process here is just laid out.  

"To achieve truly excellent education, keep it simple:  Read, Write, do Projects and Discuss."  -Oliver DeMille

I like this quote because it makes me remember that education does not need to be complicated.  I think people think that it needs to be a complicated curriculum in order to educate a child.  Yet that just isn't the case.  There are many different approaches to gaining an education.  This philosophy will help to create leaders and thinkers.  It's also important to remember that learning never ceases.  Just because you are done with school doesn't mean you are done learning.