A Thomas Jefferson Education
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''Thomas Jefferson Education'', also known as "TJEd" or "Leadership Education" is a philosophy and methodology of education which is popular among some alternative educators, including private schools, charter schools and homeschoolers. It is based on the Seven Keys of Great Teaching and the Phases of Learning. This educational paradigm was popularized through the writing and teaching of Oliver and Rachel DeMille, co-authors of the TJEd resource materials.


Seven Keys of Great Teaching

In TJEd, the "Seven Keys of Great Teaching" are Classics, not Textbooks; Mentors, not Professors; Inspire, not Require; Structure Time, not Content; Quality, not Conformity; Simplicity, not Complexity; and You, not Them.


Phases of Leadership Education

TJEd prescribes a distinct approach for students of different developmental ages. These are called "Phases", and correspond with the physical/emotional/intellectual readiness for the lessons of each phase. The suggested corresponding ages are a general guide, with exceptions that vary widely. DeMille cites such developmental psychologists as Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky and
Erik Erikson Erik Homburger Erikson (born Erik Salomonsen; 15 June 1902 – 12 May 1994) was a German-American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst known for his theory on psychological development of human beings. He coined the phrase identity cr ...
in support of their paradigm of "Phases".


Foundational Phases

The "Foundational Phases" of TJEd are as follows: *Core (birth to 8+ years of age): right and wrong, good and bad, true and false, relationships, family values, family routines and responsibilities, learning accountability, and the value and love of work. *Love of Learning (about 8 to 12 years of age): encourages family reading of classic literature, project learning, clubs and "Momschools" are among the elements that help inspire the youngster to love learning and to approach a variety of subjects with interest and growing levels of competence and diligence. The lessons of "Love of Learning" Phase: What's out there to learn? You're responsible for personal decisions. Personal accountability. Learning your gifts, interests, life's goals, mission. And the importance of home and family.


Educational Phases

The "Educational Phases" are as follows: *Scholar (approximately 12 to 18 years of age): adolescent students study long hours and work with a mentor to refine their academic skills—the emphasis placed on cultural literacy and a personalized approach to studies. *Depth (approximately 18 to 24 years of age): students submit to a mentor-guided program, whether privately or in a formal college setting or a "mission". The seven lessons of depth phase: 1. Initiative 2. Ingenuity 3. Allegiance 4. Integrity 5. Commitment 6. Passion 7. Impact


Applicational Phases

The "Applicational icPhases" are as follows: *Mission (approximately 25 to 45 years of age): the individual continues in self-education as he or she builds family and community through professional vocations, entrepreneurship, social leadership or some other focus. *Impact (approximately 45 to 65 years of age, and beyond): the individual asserts leadership on a broader scale as an "elder" in society, acting as a mentor, philosopher, philanthropist, artist, community leader and generational elder in the family. The books note that while the above timeline is in some respects ideal, it is possible to "renegotiate" lost lessons from previous phases, and "catch up" to the natural flow of the Phases.


5 Pillar Certification

TJEd parents and educators wanting an introduction to teaching through the classics can receive orientation and training to do so by completing The Five Pillar Certification. The Five Pillars of Statesmanship are: Classics, Mentors, Simulations, Field Experience and God. Certification endorses an individual’s knowledge and ability in the Classics/Mentors approach to teaching leaders by incorporating all Five Pillars into an overall system of education. The 5 Pillar Certification program is divided into three levels to facilitate progress. Level I is an introduction to the Five Pillars and the Classics/Mentors model of education includes attending a seminar, submitting a form to a facilitator, and reading and discussing the following books: ''
The Chosen Chosen or The Chosen may refer to: The chosen ones *Chosen people, people who believe they have been chosen by a higher power to do a certain thing including **Jews as the chosen people Books * ''The Chosen'' (Potok novel), a 1967 novel by Chaim ...
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Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...
'', '' Lonesome Gods'', '' Little Britches'', '' Laddie'', ''
The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...
'', and ''A Thomas Jefferson Education''. Level II is a comprehensive study of additional classics. It also requires seminar attendance and a reading and one-page summary for 12 of the following books: ''
Pride and Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is an 1813 novel of manners by Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreci ...
'', "What is Seen and What is Not Seen" from '' Essays on Political Economy'', '' The One Minute Teacher'', ''
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ''The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'', first published in 1989, is a business and self-help book written by Stephen R. Covey. Covey presents an approach to being effective in attaining goals by aligning oneself to what he calls "true north ...
'', ''Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning'', ''
Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...
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Alas, Babylon ''Alas, Babylon'' is a 1959 novel by American writer Pat Frank (the pen name of Harry Hart Frank). It was one of the first apocalyptic novels of the nuclear age and has remained popular more than half a century after it was first published, cons ...
'', '' Multiple Intelligences'', "The 7 Lesson School Teacher" from ''
Dumbing Us Down ''Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling'' () is a non-fiction book written by American teacher and political libertarian John Taylor Gatto. It has sold over 200,000 copies and consists of a multitude of speeches given by ...
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Market-Based Education A market economy is an economic system in which the decisions regarding investment, production and distribution to the consumers are guided by the price signals created by the forces of supply and demand, where all suppliers and consumers ...
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How Children Learn ''How Children Learn'' is a nonfiction book by educator John Caldwell Holt, first published in 1967. A revised edition was released in 1983, with new chapters and commentaries. The book focuses on Holt's interactions with young children and his ...
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Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...
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Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers Spiritual is the adjective for spirit. Spiritual may also refer to: Religion * Spirituality, a concern with matters of the spirit **Spiritual attack, an attack by Satan and his demons on a Christian ** Spiritual body, a Christian term for resurr ...
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The Abolition of Man ''The Abolition of Man'' is a 1943 book by C. S. Lewis. Subtitled "Reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of English in the upper forms of schools", it uses that as a starting point for a defense of objective value and natu ...
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Understanding the Times Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to use concepts to model that object. Understanding is a relation between the knower and an object o ...
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Uncle Tom’s Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U.S. ...
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The Fourth Turning ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
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Walden ''Walden'' (; first published in 1854 as ''Walden; or, Life in the Woods'') is a book by American transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau. The text is a reflection upon the author's simple living in natural surroundings. The work is part ...
'', and '' The Virginian''. Level III is considered a practical application of the Five Pillars in an educational setting. One must administrate or teach in a public, private or home school or class and apply the 5 Pillar system for a minimum of six months; keep a journal of the entire project and write a project summary when the project is complete; pass an oral board covering the content of the three levels, as well as the practicum; and attend a seminar.


Related works

* ''A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century'' (1st edition, softbound, 2000; 2nd edition hardback 2006; 2nd edition softbound 2009; by Oliver DeMille; published by TJEdOnline) * ''A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion'' (2006, Oliver DeMille, Rachel DeMille and Diann Jeppson; published by George Wythe University Press) * ''Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning'' (2010, Oliver and Rachel DeMille; published by TJEdOnline) * ''Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens'' (2009, with Shanon Brooks; published by TJEdOnline) * ''The Student Whisperer'' (2011, with Tiffany Earl; published by TJEdOnline) * ''A Call to Reinvent Liberal Arts Education
Ted.com
(2009 February, Liz Coleman, president of Bennington College)
The Element
(2009, Ken Robinson, Penguin Books) * Additional Reading * Liberal Arts Education wikipedia page for history of, usage of in history and usage of around the world
The Education of Jim Rohn
*
Do Schools Kill Creativity
Ted Talk by Ken Robinson 2006 *
Changing Education Paradigms
Ted Talk by Ken Robinson 2010 * See Adler, Reforming American Education * Bacon, Novum Organum * Barton, What Happened in Education? * Barzun, Teacher in America * Bloom, A., The Closing of the American Mind * Bloom, H., The Wester Cannon * Bloomenfeld, How to Tutor * Bloomenfeld, The Illiterates * Bunding, An Education for Our Time * Colfax, Home Schooling for Excellence * Covey, First Things First * Dewey, The School and Society * Emerson, The American Scholar * Gardner, Multiple Intelligences * Gardner, The Unschooled Mind * Gatto, Dumbing Us Down * Gatto, The Exhausted School * Glasser, The Quality School * Harward, A Market Approach to Education * Hirsch, Cultural Literacy * Hirsch, et al., The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy * Holt, How Children Fail * Holt, How Children Learn * Hutchins, The Higher Learning in America * Kirk, Redeeming the Times * Lewis, The Abolition of Man * Mason, The Original Home School Series (6 vol.) * Montessori, all writings * Nash, The Closing of the American Heart * Noebel, Understanding the Times * Ortegta y Gasset, Mission of the University * Perelman, School's Out * Pudewa, all writings * Smith, Killing the Spirit * Strauss and Howe, The Fourth Turning * Swanson, The Education of James Madison * Taylor, The Healing Power of Stories * Toffler, Futureshock * Van Doren, Liberal Education


References


External links


Thomas Jefferson Education

Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens

Oliver DeMille
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas Jefferson Education Alternative education Homeschooling