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A Basic Overview of Thomas Jefferson Education Homeschooling
Thomas Jefferson was an early American hero who was very passionate about education. He worked to provide an education for all children and was a key player in making education free for all; in fact, Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. This University was heavily revolved around its library because Thomas Jefferson was a lover of classic books.
Many consider Thomas Jefferson to be a great leader and he was the third President of the United States of America and was a very influential part of early American history.
Thomas Jefferson Education, TJEd or Leadership Education, is based on the
Seven Keys of Great Teaching and the Phases of Learning.
The Seven Keys of Great Teaching – TJEd
- Classic literature, not Textbooks
- Mentors, not Professors
- Inspire, not Require
- Structure Time, not Content
- Quality, not Conformity
- Simplicity, not Complexity
- You, not Them
Every person has an important mission in life, and every child deserves an education to match his/her mission.
TJEd.org
What I like most about the Thomas Jefferson Education homeschool model is that they focus on a life-long education. That really resonates with me because our motto and tagline happen to be “A Life-Long Journey of Learning”. I also really like how TJEd focuses on helping children to find their mission or calling in life, and then help them gain the knowledge to fulfill that calling. Homeschoolers who follow a Thomas Jefferson Education model are very big into self-education, which is very cool.
As I researched TJEd homeschooling so I could share my findings with you good people, I realized that TJEd doesn’t seem to be a homeschool curriculum or a homeschool method per se, but more of a lifestyle that is applied to homeschooling. Although there are tools and curriculum helps used to those who to TJEd, that is not the main focus of this style of homeschooling.
This is not a hands-off approach by any means. Don’t confuse a Thomas Jefferson Education with unschooling. Even though homeschoolers who follow the TJED method enjoy a self-education, parents are totally and completely involved in their children’s own education.
Parents are in charge of
- Inspiring their children with new thoughts and ideas
- Guiding them through different curriculum options
- Reading and working through classics together
- Providing their children with an opportunity to explore and learn
- Discussing ideas and thoughts
- Mentoring children through their mission choice
- Opening the world to them
- And so much more!
A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders
If you follow the TJED homeschooling model, your homeschool strives to raise up a group of world-changing leaders. There is a reason TJED is dubbed “A Leadership Education.” In fact, Thomas Jefferson homeschooling guides children along a pathway of leadership education with several small phases and steps, each with the goal of producing new levels of great leaders.
Phases of Leadership Education – TJEd
There are three main phases of leadership education, and each of these main phases are broken down into sections.
Foundational Phases of Education – TJEd
The foundational phases of education are CORE (birth to 8 years of age), and LOVE OF LEARNING, (8-12 years of age). This phase focuses on teaching children right from wrong, good from evil, family relationships and responsibilities, their own personal gifts and interests, talents, goals, and life’s missions.
Educational Phases of Education – TJEd
Around age 12 you enter the Educational Phase. This includes SCHOLAR (12-18) and DEPTH (18-25). Students in this phase spend their years in study, learning what they want to do with their lives, and then studying with a mentor who can properly guide them through these skills.
Applicational Phases of Education – TJEd
And finally, there are the applicational phases of education (MISSION and IMPACT). This encompasses ages 25-65 and beyond. People in this phase of Thomas Jefferson Education focus on building and providing for their families, supporting the community through leadership and entrepreneurship, and then finally, acting as an elder and a mentor in the community.
Not a Conveyor Belt Education
If I had to take away one principle from the Thomas Jefferson Education model, I would say that it is NOT a conveyor belt education. This is by no means public school. What I mean by that is this education style is not designed to produce employees. TJEd does not teach children WHAT to think.
TJEd instead focuses on leadership education. Students participate in a self-education model and are in charge of their own education, to a degree. Teaching kids HOW to think and HOW to learn for themselves is the main goal of Thomas Jefferson Education – which is why it is also frequently called Leadership Education.
More information on Thomas Jefferson Education Homeschool – TJEd – can be found by clicking on the links below.
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Kenneth Lougee
Friday 7th of August 2020
Some of us think Oliver DeMille's methods end up with young adults unprepared scholasticly but more importantly emotionally. As a college teacher, I know TJED students need remedial writing. More important, they are terrified of any new idea.
Randi Jones
Wednesday 9th of September 2020
Could you explain what you mean by "terrified of any new idea?" I'm homeschooling my kids right now and we have followed the TJEd philosophy albeit using various curricula as well as teaching our children fundamentals of math and writing as they reach ages appropriate to do so.
We also teach our children morals that we hope they do not give up as they move into a college level. I'm not sure if that's what the students you are referring to are "afraid" of (perhaps they reject modern philosophies that their parents have taught them are incorrect). I may be reading too much into your statement to suggest that. If so, I apologize.
Charlene Hess
Monday 10th of August 2020
That's an interesting perspective I've never heard before. I know other homeschooling methods produce successful college students. Thanks for the insight on TJED students!