Gregg Harris
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Gregg Eugene Harris (born November 23, 1952, in Dayton, OH) was a figure in the
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
homeschooling Homeschooling or home schooling, also known as home education or elective home education (EHE), is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a school. Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or an onlin ...
movement from 1981 through the mid-1990s and later served as a teaching elder at Gresham Household of Faith, which was an experiment in local church reform. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, his work helped launch the Christian homeschooling movement in the United States, Canada,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and Mexico. Over 180,000 families attended his seminars. His book ''The Christian Home School'' was a
Christian Booksellers Association CBA (formerly known as the Christian Booksellers Association), subtitled "The Association for Christian Retail since 1950", is a trade association that was established in 1950. History The association was first organized by 219 Christian booksto ...
best seller in March 1988. The list was published by the CBA and was on file in the offices of Noble Institute. Gregg's wife, Sono, died on July 4, 2010, after a short battle with cancer. Gregg and Sono's three younger children Sarah, Isaac, and James live in Gresham, Oregon. He was the director of the Noble Institute, a non-profit educational organization. From 2017 - 2020, Harris was the owner and proprietor of Roosevelt's Terrariums in Portland, Oregon. In 2019 Gregg Harris got remarried to Bonnie Schmitt Harris. The couple now live in Silverton, Or. and Gregg has started a new terrarium shop, Silver Falls Terrarium. They are also working on a new ministry project, The Noble Inn in Silverton, OR.


Delight-directed study

One of the main ideas promoted by Gregg Harris is the principle of delight-directed study.Harris 1988. This is the basis of Harris's homeschool, child training, and church reform activities. Harris bases this principle on Psalm 111:2, "''Great are the works of the LORD, they are pondered by all who delight in them.''" He reasons that because God is good, everything that is necessary for human life is also a source of pleasure. It is when the pleasures of God are separated from the purposes of God for those pleasures that an activity becomes sinful, "God dishonoring", and self-destructive. Harris interprets this principle to state that boredom is the absence of learning (or mental hunger) and loneliness the absence of
social connectedness Social connection is the experience of feeling close and connected to others. It involves feeling loved, cared for, and valued, and forms the basis of interpersonal relationships."Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel ...
(or social hunger). Therefore, education and study, for good or ill, is nurtured best through what he calls the "power of companionship" among "fellow enthusiasts". All of these ideas are laid out in his various seminars and workshops as described on the blog of Noble Institute. According to his principle, many social ills are actually the negative consequences of delight-directed study among foolish, often age-segregated people, (e.g. drug abuse and gang membership), while many of the greatest human accomplishments are the consequence of delight-directed study among wise, age-integrated fellow enthusiasts (e.g. in science clubs, hobby groups and other affinity groups). Harris argues that this is why academic and hobby clubs are often more effective than classes offered on the same subjects. The social forces in a classroom are often at odds with its very purpose, whereas the social forces in a well-run club are more supportive of excellence in the topic of interest to the club.


Harris family

Some of Gregg Harris's seven children have gained recognition. His oldest son Joshua Harris is a former pastor and author of '' I Kissed Dating Goodbye''. His twin sons,
Alex and Brett Harris The Rebelution is a Christian ministry/organization directed at youth, describing itself as "a teenage rebellion against low expectations." It was founded in August 2005 by twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris, younger brothers of best-selling auth ...
(born in 1989), are founders of
The Rebelution The Rebelution is a Christian ministry/organization directed at youth, describing itself as "a teenage rebellion against low expectations." It was founded in August 2005 by twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris, younger brothers of best-selling au ...
, a Christian teen website and authors of the book ''
Do Hard Things ''Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations'' is a popular Christian book authored by Alex and Brett Harris, founders of The Rebelution. It was published by WaterBrook Multnomah, a division of Random House, on April 15, 2008. ' ...
': A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations''. In addition to his seven children, Gregg Harris has 6 step-children and 19 grandchildren.


Controversy

In 1995 Harris was one of several named in an
anti-trust Competition law is the field of law that promotes or seeks to maintain market competition by regulating anti-competitive conduct by companies. Competition law is implemented through public and private enforcement. It is also known as antitrust l ...
suit by Cheryl Lindsey Seelhoff. Seelhoff's business, which promoted home education and traditional family life, had suffered when her involvement with a man other than her husband became known. After her remarriage, she brought suit against a number of homeschooling leaders for various causes of action including defamation, slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, intentional interference with commerce, and violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.{{Cite web, url= http://www.heir.org/oldsite/nw90626.htm, title= Jury Finds Teaching Home Editor Conspired to Restrain Trade – Defendants Gregg Harris, Mary Pride, Sue Welch Settled, accessdate= 2008-07-29, archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828130307/http://www.heir.org/oldsite/nw90626.htm, archive-date= 2008-08-28, url-status= dead.{{Cite web, url=https://theweek.com/articles/742927/how-rising-star-religious-right-excommunicated, title=How a rising star of the religious right was 'ex-communicated', date=2017-12-31, website=theweek.com, access-date=2019-08-10 Seelhoff mentioned Harris in her original complaint. Harris' insurance company settled out of court before legal proceedings began.


References

{{Reflist


Bibliography

* {{Cite web , url= http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_delight_dir_study_gregg_h.htm, title= Delight-Directed Study, accessdate=2008-07-29 * {{Cite book , last = Harris , first = Gregg , year = 1988 , title = The Christian Home School , publisher = Wolgemuth & Hyatt , isbn = 0-943497-06-X


External links


Noble InstituteHousehold of Faith GreshamGentle Spirit Lawsuit
– Information regarding the Cheryl Seelhoff controversy. {{Authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Gregg Eugene University of Dayton alumni Wright State University alumni People from Gresham, Oregon Homeschooling advocates 1952 births Living people People from Dayton, Ohio