Raising Leaders: Free Time
July 2009
I’ve had some free time on my hands. By free time I mean the time when I’m rocking my baby and I have free hands. Not free enough to clean the house. Not free enough to be on the computer. But free enough to read. It’s convenient.
The past week I’ve read Facing the Lions, The Horse and His Boy, Man of the Family, Sackett’s Land, Three Cups of Tea, and I’m halfway through The Hiding Place. I feel edified.
In my other free time when I’m folding laundry or doing dishes or folding laundry, I’ve been listening to the TJEd Forum Workshops. Again with the enlightenment.
My eldest son is entering Scholar Phase. I’m enjoying the view as his parent. One of the Keys of Great Teaching is You, Not Them. As a homeschooling parent, I believe that I must set an example. An example of self education. I read and study and write and calculate. And along the way, my children learn those skills. The skills of how to learn. Because with a love of learning and a knowledge of how to obtain education… there are no limits.
As Jacob enters Scholar Phase, his peer group becomes important. More important. He needs friends. Friends who inspire and uplift. Who also love to learn and have a sense of mission. These friends will be instrumental in his education… in his life. And so I work to build a community. A community that strives for learning. Education. Edification. A community of families. Families who value freedom, and the role education plays in maintaining our freedom. Homes where discussions are had that reach beyond the daily grind, past television and video games. Because {quoting Oliver DeMille} “The leaders of the future are in your homes.”
Tammy and I have been organizing the 1st Annual Alaska Leadership Education Forum. It will be offered in Fairbanks and Anchorage this fall. We have a guest speaker coming from Canada along with other leaders from the local community who are using the TJEd principles in their homes. It’s going to be brilliant. If you are interested… please join us!
I’ve created a book discussion group for adults here in Kodiak as well. We start in August. Our first book will be A Thomas Jefferson Education, then we’ll move on to more classics. I’m really looking forward to discussing good literature again. This group is also open… I’d love to have you come! I miss the group we had in North Pole. Michael, who took over as coordinator when I left, has been holding some really superb discussions up there. Currently they are reading The 5000 Year Leap, an excellent book. Michael has been writing about the principles of freedom discussed in the book. You can read his writings at You, Not Them. I highly recommend taking a look! Michael is a stellar example. I’m looking forward to hearing him speak at the forum.
I love working with youth. I love teaching them. I love conversing with them. I love to watch while ideas and thoughts form in their mind during a discussion. It’s inspiring. In the past I’ve held youth book discussion groups. This year I wanted to step it up a bit. I’ve been working on a syllabus for a Leadership Through Literature class. I picked my books {the ones listed above plus Ender’s Game and 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens} and planned a couple leadership simulations. In a group setting we’d discuss leadership, history, writing, government… the list is indefinite.
All of our discussions about mentoring, group discussions, webinars, community, and education have led Tammy and I to the formulation of a plan. A plan that includes an online academy for Scholar Phase youth. I’ve been up nights just thinking about the possibility. The chance to provide my child what he needs while offering it to others.
Want to know more about TJEd? Click here to read a very informative article. Enjoy.