Educating Leaders - No Conveyor Belt Education Here!

June 13, 2006 - What is 'Real Education'?

What is "real education"?

Most parents today think it is completing high school or college. You grew up riding down the conveyor belt of education, completing textbooks, and following the same path as every other student. This does not provide an education for future leaders. Instead it trains students to be followers who only learn "what to think".

One of the differences between public education (on the conveyor belt) and leadership education (teaching how to think) is the concept of "inspire, not require". These past few weeks have truly been educational and inspirational. What do I mean by this?

My children spent some time at their grandparents' home in Texas before Steve & I arrived. My son excitedly called to tell me what they were doing (really he was learning). He discovered two bird nests with eggs, saw a triple barrel shotgun, visited a museum with many, many animals and much more. Hunter and his grandma spent hours looking for the type of birds that laid their eggs nearby.

We picked up our children from camp and drove to my parents a couple of weeks ago. The first thing my son asked his grandma when we arrived back at the farm was if the eggs had hatched. We spent the week watching the eggs hatch and the birds fly on their own. Then, we discovered the birds were painted buntings. We also found a nest in my dad's hat, right outside the back door. There are 5 eggs in that wren's nest.

Next we discovered two brown-speckled eggs on the ground at the back of the farm. After investigating the eggs and the bird, they spent time on the internet and reading the bird books to find out it is a whip-poor-will. Whip-poor-wills lay two brown eggs on the ground.

Last night we watched a fawn nurse from its mom, then lie down in the grass while its mom walked into the woods. The fawn looked like it was one or two days old.

I could go on, but you get the picture. We were all learning about birds and wildlife without cracking a textbook or answering questions.

Do you think my children will remember more about these animals or the ones they might be forced to study in a textbooks?

This summer I will continue to look for areas of interest in my children and pursue that for studies. You can inspire your children to "real education" by following their interests and the situations God places in your life.

Please post a comment about this story. I'd love the feedback or other ideas.

Kerry

Inspire Children

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June 14, 2006 - Inspiring our kids

Posted by Anonymous

Kerry,
Just wanted to drop you a note of thanks for your encouragement. I've got a couple of weeks alone with my 8yo son while his sisters are away at camp, and I've been trying not to feel guilty about all our "down time" which is filled with the things he is interested in, rather than what's on my educational agenda. Today I will embrace it as real learning experiences that are not in my lesson planner YET. God bless you and your family, and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Kimberly J. in GA

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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 :-)

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