Choosing Books Wisely

In a previous post  I remarked on the quote, "All civilization comes through literature."   In an attempt to validate this premise, I've been reading several books on the subject.    A Thomas Jefferson Education  subtitled,   "Teaching A Generation of Leaders For the Twenty-First Century"  is an interesting read for educators and parents alike.  The author outlines the value of reading the classics:

• Bent stories portray evil as good and good as evil. 
• Broken stories portray accurately evil as evil and good as good, but evil wins.
• Whole stories are where good is good and good wins.
• Healing stories can be Whole or Broken stories where the reader is profoundly moved, changed, or significantly improved by her reading experience.

1. Avoid Bent stories.
2. Develop a personal canon of Healing stories.
3. Spend the majority of your studies in Whole works, but don't neglect Broken stories that you ought to be fixing.

In truth, I haven't read many of the classics.  But after reading from several sources about the value of such reading, I have set upon my own journey of self re-education.  I am more convicted than ever to include quality classic literature as the center piece of our curriculum.

10:01 AM - Oct. 26, 2006 - comments {0} - post comment

The 13 Virtues Taught By Ben Franklin

The  Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin  offers us 13 Virtues to which we should aspire:

1. TEMPERANCE.
Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE.
Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER.
Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION.
Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY.
Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY.
Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY.
Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE.
Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION.
Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS.
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILLITY.
Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY.
Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY.
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

11:03 AM - May. 11, 2006 - comments {0} - post comment

Our Educational Philosophy

Why do we homeschool? As education is largely accomplished by imitation, exposing our children to the greatest works of literature, art, music, and persons of virtue and accomplishment throughout the history of western civilization, will train their minds, souls and will to be great. We have chosen to homeschool to encourage our children to both know and love what have been the greatest achievements of civilization and to understand the unity underlying them; a unity that leads back to one loving, merciful God of all. We endeavor to provide a discovery-based, literate and enthusiastic environment where lifelong learning become self-initiated and self-fulfilling. As children of God we will strive always to know, love and serve God through discovering God's gifts to us and sharing our God-given gifts with others.

10:22 PM - May. 10, 2006 - comments {0} - post comment