Most of our Founding Fathers, including Ben Franklin, Sam Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, like most average colonial Americans, spent few years, if any, in formal grammar schools of the day, yet they knew how to read and write well.
Most voluntary local grammar schools expected parents to teach their children to read and write before they started school. Most colonial parents apparently had no trouble teaching their children these skills.
At least ten of our presidents were home-schooled. James Madison's mother taught him to read and write. John Quincy Adams was educated at home until he was twelve years old. At age fourteen, he entered Harvard. Abraham Lincoln, except for fifty weeks in a grammar school, learned at home from books he borrowed. He learned law by reading law books, and became an apprentice to a practicing lawyer in Illinois.
Other great Americans were similarly educated. John Rutledge, a chief justice of the Supreme Court, was taught at home by his father until he was eleven years old. Patrick Henry, one our great Founding Fathers and the governor of colonial Virginia, learned English grammar, the Bible, history, French, Latin, Greek, and the classics from his father.
Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, and Florence Nightingale were all taught at home by their mothers or fathers. John Jay was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers, a chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and a governor of New York. His mother taught him reading, grammar, and Latin before he was eight years old. John Marshall, our first Supreme Court Chief Justice, was home-schooled by his father until age fourteen. Robert E. Lee, Thomas Stonewall Jackson, George Patton, and Douglas MacArthur were also educated at home. Booker T. Washington, helped by his mother, taught himself to read by using Noah Webster's Blue Back Speller.
Thomas Edison's public school expelled him at age seven because his teacher thought he was feeble-minded. Edison, one of our greatest inventors, had only three months of formal schooling. After leaving school, his mother taught him the basics at home over the next three years. Under his mother's care and instruction, young Edison thrived.
If Thomas Edison was alive today as that child of seven, school authorities would probably stick him in special- education classes. Poor Thomas would waste his precious mind and be bored to death until they released him from school at age sixteen.
So it turns out that many of the famous Americans our children now read about in their dumbed-down public-school textbooks were either homeschooled, never set foot in a government-controlled public school, or thankfully only went to a public school for a very short period of time.
Joel Turtel is an education policy analyst, and author of "Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children." Contact Information: Website: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Email: lbooksusa@aol.com, Phone: 718-447-7348. Article Copyrighted © 2005 by Joel Turtel. NOTE: You may post this Article on an Ezine, newsletter, or other website only if you include Joel Turtel's complete contact information, and set up a hyperlink to Joel Turtel's email address and website URL, http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
There is nothing quite like hiking with small children. The... Read More
Self-reliance and potential are two very important values that I'd... Read More
Impulsivity is one of the hallmarks of people with Attention... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
'How can I start getting my children to help out... Read More
Many parents seem to be more than a little confused... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
1 "Law of Belonging": The greatest need of teenagers (after... Read More
At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy... Read More
Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece... Read More
I am sure that this list can be jogged and... Read More
If you spend any time in the parenting section of... Read More
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More
My son, Dakota is now 7 yrs old. He is... Read More
My son recently had his third birthday party and it... Read More
Wooden toys are one of the best alternatives for the... Read More
Here is a top secret to make your child genius... Read More
"My son won't go to bed at night without a... Read More
During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael... Read More
It was a hot summer day in august and The... Read More
One of parents' most important duties is to protect their... Read More
Just the other day my oldest son asked:"Daddy, am I... Read More
If you ever walk through an orphanage, it will be... Read More
We adopted our first child when he was three months... Read More
Most research into children's friendships shows that those children who... Read More
Sometimes a change of perspective can make a huge difference... Read More
"Will my doubts and fears affect my child?" This father... Read More
Prioritize. Learn to say No. Steal some time for yourself.Don't... Read More
Q. We just got our daughter's progress report, and it... Read More
As a parent your biggest responsibility is to prepare your... Read More
You are in the final round of your favorite game... Read More
Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to... Read More
Parents, do you have children who do poorly in school,... Read More
Reading to your child at a young age is one... Read More
Young people generally want to fit in to their various... Read More
Most of our Founding Fathers, including Ben Franklin, Sam Adams,... Read More
The internet is a dangerous place for your children. Don't... Read More
What makes parenting so challenging at times? One widespread research... Read More
Should a parent give a child a tangible reward when... Read More
O.K. So now you have taken the step of having... Read More
Working with adults (as well as children and teens) for... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
If You're Having Twins..is it double the headache, or double... Read More
Many parenting books advise against eating out with young children.... Read More
Q. I don't like my children spending so much time... Read More
Parents are in a unique position to "monitor" their children's... Read More
The girl's jaw dropped in horror as the police officer... Read More
Isn't it ironic that a country whose constitution allows for... Read More
The 21st Century Problem in Schools: Bullying, and How to... Read More
Child care costs are are one of the most expensive... Read More
Incest is sexual activity, ranging from fondling to intercourse, between... Read More
Your daughter tells you that Uncle Charley has touched her... Read More
Q. I need your help with a question about my... Read More
School authorities continually claim that they want more parent cooperation... Read More
Q: Our son has been in honors classes all through... Read More
Being a single mother is no easy task. I know.... Read More
Creating and making special memories with your child is very... Read More
Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for... Read More
Did you know that over 75% of teens aged 16-17... Read More
Former students would probably attest to the fact that few... Read More
In the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo's father, Marlyn asks the... Read More
The Internet, is magnificent in its resources for families. Educational... Read More
Detox To Conceive.. If you're having trouble conceiving... Read More
LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2005) - With Memorial Day weekend,... Read More
Parenting |