Archive for the ‘Quintessential Quotations’ Category

Quintessential Quote: Papa Gray

Posted: July 23, 2011 in Quintessential Quotations
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“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”

~Jim Rohn

One of my more impacting memories of school was my 6th grade graduation. Everyone, kids and parents alike, had nervous anticipation of the next step into Junior High. The Principal of my modest public school, who was the self appointed key note speaker for our graduation, began to read off a list of names, all of which were my close friends. I nervously awaited my name to be called so I could proudly stand among my friends for the impending accolade. Fear and embarrassment hit me like a ton of bricks when my name was not called and all of my friends were proudly displayed as the “Future Leaders of America” because of a B average or better they had managed to maintain on their climb from Kindergarten to the annuls of 6th grade. I can still see the anger in my mother’s eyes as she watched her 12- year-old slump down in the chair and stare at the floor.

Looking back on this memory, it would be easy for me to have strong feelings of distaste for my shortsighted Principal or the system he was paid to uphold. But the important lesson in all of this, for me, is the system is the system which we all live in and are measured by, be that school, work, church, neighborhood, socioeconomic class, etc.. It is those that see the system for what it is and dare to break free of its limited hierarchical boundaries that end up doing great things. The status quo will make you a living, but when you feed your passion and God given talents, a fortune is poured that too few dare to taste.

Quintessential Quote – Mama Rose

Posted: July 23, 2011 in Quintessential Quotations
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The incredible Albert Einstein had so many quotes we could use in our journey with education – not only was he a genius, he was not successful in the traditional school system and oftentimes bucked the norm (even with the hairdo).  So I bring you a great one:

It is our American habit if we find the foundations of our educational

structure unsatisfactory to add another story or wing.

~ Albert Einstein

It made me wonder…with us choosing something other than the expected private or public school program for our kids, are we merely trying to establish another “religion” in the quest for perfect education?   I hope not.  I don’t want to just add a different wing to education – another concept/theory/revolution of “school.”  There are so many out there, it’s overwhelming – there is public, private, homeschool, unschooling, k12, or any assortment of them, there are many programs out there to fall into.

The goal of our site is not to create another branch.  It’s to show you the pros and cons, the perks and cool features, the frustrations and triumphs in the non-traditional, non-conformist way we are choosing to school our children.  We’re new at this – we don’t want to reinvent the wheel.  We want to find the stinkin wheel first!

I don’t want “American Habit” when it comes to much, and I don’t want to create a “my way is right” mentality.  I want an overall understanding that you can find good in most anything, and learning is not confined to one program.  So let’s journey together and explore many programs/concepts/schooling options and embrace the ones that work for our kids, period.