Educating Leaders - No Conveyor Belt Education Here!

May 8, 2006 - George Wythe College & Mormonism

I had a subscriber ask me about George Wythe College and the Mormon influence. Here's what I wrote:

GWC is founded by Mormons and DeMille is Mormon. Although I have never attended a TJEd seminar, I have been told that the Mormon theology is fairly blatant. I do not recommend them. If you are looking for alternatives with a Christian perspective, I would suggest Schola online tutorials with Wes Callihan. I have also found Gileskirk Humanities Curriculum by George Grant to be excellent. This curriculum does not offer online mentoring, but it has excellent worldview lectures. The lectures are fantastic springboards for discussions at home. If you want to read more about Gileskirk, go to http://www.curriculumconnection.net/gileskirkreview.htm

Kerry

category:

Thomas Jefferson Education
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May 9, 2006 - I'm not sure this characterization is quite accurate

Posted by Anonymous

Since I live in UT, perhaps I may shed a bit of light on the topic.

Clearly, the founder is LDS, and TJE is very popular in Utah.

However, there is NOTHING in the key book "A Thomas Jefferson Education" that is LDS. (In fact, the only Scripture that is mentioned is the Bible.) The basic method is similar to that used by many Christian homeschoolers--good books, finding a mentor, asking the big questions about life, etc--and fit well into either Charlotte Mason or classical teaching styles.

TJE's main points are about method, not about content, and the book can be read and easily adapted into whatever other materials you may be using.

TJE's points about education for the masses, vs. education for the "elite" of a society are very well-taken, I think.

Certainly, there are other books or methods that are more directly Christian in content. However, TJE is not "unchristian" any more than using the Socratic method is "unchristian." (Or, for that matter, Charlotte Mason or The Well-Trained Mind. Both of these are widely accepted by homeschooling believers, but both have also been criticized for not being "Christian" approaches.) Socrates may not have been a Christian, but his basic method can work well for many different people.

The question in evaluating TJE would be which books you would read or focus on, what questions you would ask and how you would answer them, and what sort of people you would look to as mentors.

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May 9, 2006 - I agree

Posted by LeadershipEducation

Thanks for your comment. Actually, this entire blog is about TJEd and what a terrific approach it is when you educate your children. Our company is usually tops in google when you search for A Thomas Jefferson Education, so I definitely believe in the contents of the book.

That said, there is a difference between the book and the seminars they present. My concern is for readers of TJEd to attend a seminar and not know beforehand that LDS material will be presented.

Thanks for making a distinction between the book TJEd and the seminars by George Wythe College.

Kerry
www.CurriculumConnection.net

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May 21, 2006 - TJEd & Mormonism

Posted by Polestar

I have attended several TJEd seminars. I do not find them to be any more or less slanted towards Mormonism than DeMille's book. There is a Christian attitude in general, but great care is taken not to endorse any religion.

My husband went to the GWC Current Events seminar last month and says that if Mormonism is what you wanted to hear then that is what you would get, but that if you went with a Muslim stance you could probably hear that too - or any religion for that matter. He says, "You get what you are looking for basically."

I have heard a prophet from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) quoted once in a seminar, but quotes from the Koran, Old Testament, Confucius and Budda were also given in the same presentation.

DeMille is a Mormon and so is some of his staff. It would be unreasonable, in my opinion, to not have a little bit of his religion seep in. I would expect the same of any practicing and observant Jew or Buddist. If you truly live your religion it becomes a part of you and is certain to show.

Please do not avoid the seminars for fear of any potential Mormon influence. They are wonderful seminars which help you apply TJEd in your home.

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July 27, 2007 - google

Posted by LadyPoet33

I googled TJed and Charlotte Mason and your blog came up!

Great blog. I've been studying TJed for years. I really like it. My kids really like it.

When dealing with your core phase, you will study whatever core books you hold dear. If it is the bible, then you will use that as your core book. If it is something else, then you will use that as your core book.

Most Mormons here in Utah use the bible as a huge part of their core. Yes, they use the book of Mormon as well. But, if you were Jewish you would use the Torah, if you are Muslim, you would use the Qoran...etc..

I have heard DeMille speak, and have to say, what core book he is refering to, depends on whom he is speaking to. He realizes that not everyone believes like he does, but most of us can agree in a few basic good and bad, true and false, right and wrong ideas.

The book is good for any religion.

LadyPoet33

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September 18, 2007 - Mormon influence at George Wythe

Posted by Sue

What you have said is incorrect; and it is based upon assumption and not experience or information, as you have stated. I have never heard Oliver DeMille speak using a Mormon contextual view, nor does the school teach in that manner- it is not a "Mormon" school and the school is not geared towards teaching Mormon Doctrine, but is aimed at teaching the way George Wythe mentored the founders.

Oliver DeMille, himself, I believe, received his degrees at a Baptist College. While, in his home, I am sure he strengthens the tenets of his religion, that does not happen in his seminars, classes, or anything else he does. I first heard him speak at a 4th of July celebration and was so impressed with him and what he said, that I immediately wanted to find out more about the school.

Having been a Christian both outside of and inside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I find it peculiar that the same attitudes exist towards us among other Christians- attitudes based upon incorrect information, false assumptions, and distortions of the truth. In the Protestant world, of which I was a part for many years, there are many disagreements upon doctrinal issues, and we have our differing views also. I see no reason to pass by an excellent educational approach because of a prejudiced attitude towards one's religion. Are we not all free to worship God as we please? Does our religious preference change the content of the classics?

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November 28, 2007 - I don't agree either

Posted by Anonymous

My family has attended several GWC-sponsored events. None of the "Face-to-Face with Greatness" seminars endorse Mormonism explicitly. When DeMille does refer to his church he makes it very clear that it is his church. No one religion is endorsed.

Because many TJEd families are LDS, they obviously see it all through their worldview, just as Christians see it through their own. Don't let fear of Mormon theology prevent you from attending these events, and certainly don't make your choices based on what you read on the internet!

Kathleen
www.liberfidesveritas.blogspot.com

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January 20, 2008 - Your Post

Posted by michellewitzel123

Hi Kerry,

I like your blog however re:
TJed and Mormonism, my daughter is a student at George Wythe College..and is Catholic...and has never encountered any Mormonism, etc. being taught to her. In fact, her fellow students usually ask if she is Mormon and when she replies no, then they respect her faith and just speak to her about other topics. She has several friends who are at George Wythe, including those who are Mormon, and has attended seminars there...and the focus is on the ideas of Statesmanship and Leadership Education...with religion talked about in a general sense out of repsect for those who are from different churches, religions, etc.

So I thought that I would add my two cents here,just from our own experience.

Thanks for the blog!

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August 18, 2008 - GWC's new president not Mormon

Posted by Anonymous

Just so you are aware, George Wythe College, which is soon to be George Wythe University, will have a new president, who is not Mormon and is in fact a born again Christian if I am not mistaken. Demille will stay on as Chancellor. Dr Brooks, who will be the new President, has been with GWC through the founding years and obviously has not felt unwelcome or indoctrinated.

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August 22, 2008 - GWC TJED Seminars

Posted by Anonymous

It's always interesting to find persons who do not "attend" but give out their opinions based on what they've "heard". Just for the sake of the post, I wanted to clarify that "Mormons" are Christians. The name of their church denotes this plainly. One does not need to be LDS to find a great read like Thomas Jefferson Education. Neither does one need to like Mormons to teach their children some great leadership skills found in DeMille's book and/or college campus.

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A place to interact about teaching our kids without following the conveyor belt model of the government schools. Think outside the box and provide a leadership education for your children. Other musings are included on a regular basis :-)