Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Five "E's"

I've come up with The Five E's" and it has become my learning "mission statement."

I create an Environment where
my kids are Exposed to great things
in an Engaging way so that they
can Explore and Experiment.
What I really like about this is it clearly delineates what my responsibility is and what they're responsibility is and where we meet in the middle.
  • My job is the environment and to expose.
  • We engage together.
  • Their job is to explore and experiment.
I'd love to hear what other people think or how we could expand this idea.
ToriAnn, UT

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We think this concept she has put into a phrase to easily remember, helps one to focus on the tone and goal of the parents in raising their children in an educationally rich home.

Note, her mission incorporates these TJEd Principles:
Inspire, Not Require; Structure Time, Not Content; Simplicity, Not Complexity; You, Not Them

Friday, March 19, 2010

ReValue America Tour

WE REGRET THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED
This tour was designed at no cost to participants. However, the people leading the tour were doing this at their own personal expense and now do not have the funds to travel as they had anticipated.  We will keep you posted on this site with any meetings and opportunities as they become available to meet with others who follow TJEd principles and values.


If you have any questions or need more information you may click the comments section below and we'll answer you here. 


WE HIGHLY Recommend the Seminar coming April 16-17, which is two FULL days, both from 9 am to 5 pm packed with depth on the topics listed below. However, there is material participants will need to study prior to the content rich workshops, so that you will get the most out of it. Hearing information is one thing, studying and understanding it is our goal.

For more information see our post regarding the Face to Face Seminar.  If you are wanting to participate, call the host Lynne Nielsen 503-447-1103 and mention Ann Agent referred you to obtain a discount!


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The Message
“Only a few lifetimes ago things were very different in the United States. Originality and variety were common currency; our freedom from regimentation made us the miracle of the world; social-class boundaries were relatively easy to cross; We were something special, we Americans, all by ourselves, without government sticking its nose into our lives, without institutions and social agencies telling us how to think and feel. 
 
Were the colonists a breed apart from us? No; the truth is that they were the beneficiaries of a system of education that facilitated their natural genius. Today, we can apply the same principles and, like our forebears, meet the challenges of our time with character, competence and courage to triumph over the circumstances that imperil our freedom and prosperity. ReValue America is that message.

ReValue America TOUR:  May 14-15

Vancouver, WA  *  Beaverton/Aloha, OR  *  Salem, OR *  Oregon City, OR 
The voice of Project: TJEd 1 Million

Who are we?
Oliver DeMille and Shanon Brooks are founders of George Wythe University and members of the founding team of The Center of Social Leadership. National figures in teaching Leadership Education, they have spent the past 20 years researching, teaching, writing and speaking on the educational legacy of early America; the only solution to this nation’s current ills.

What are we going to talk about?

Major Themes Covered in the ReValue America Lecture Tour:
  • The Five Founding American Ideals and How to Be An American
  • Summary of the State of American Education
  • Solutions for a Nation in Crisis
  • The Moral Center of Families
  • 3 Steps to Reviving American Confidence
  • An Introduction to The Cycle of Freedom and How America Measures Up
  • Defining Education
  • An Introduction to A Thomas Jefferson Education: The Science of Building Americans
  • The 4 Phases of Learning
  • The Real Story of the American Founding
  • The Proper Role of Government
  • The 7 Keys of Great Teaching
  • The Rise of Social Leadership
  • The Secret Roles of Mothers and Fathers


Why should you attend?

America is a land in crisis. From a collapsing economy, over-the-top divorce rates and abysmal academic performance; to the disintegration of the family and near zero accountability in state and national government—America is facing a crisis like never before.
After decades of attempting to impact society from the top down, we are convinced that the historical American way of life can, and will only be safeguarded by the people themselves—by the very families that are at risk. We believe that 1,000,000 families internalizing and applying TJEd can have a real, measurable positive impact on American culture.

Why should you care?
“Only a few lifetimes ago things were very different in the United States. Originality and variety were common currency; our freedom from regimentation made us the miracle of the world; social-class boundaries were relatively easy to cross; We were something special, we Americans, all by ourselves, without government sticking its nose into our lives, without institutions and social agencies telling us how to think and feel.
Were the colonists a breed apart from us? No; the truth is that they were the beneficiaries of a system of education that facilitated their natural genius. Today, we can apply the same principles and, like our forebears, meet the challenges of our time with character, competence and courage to triumph over the circumstances that imperil our freedom and prosperity. ReValue America is that message.


The Messengers

Oliver DeMille is the founder and former president of George Wythe College, a co-founder of the Center for Social Leadership and the author of A Thomas Jefferson Education, Leadership Education, The Coming Aristocracy and co-author of A Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies and a B.A. in International Relations, an M.A. in Christian Political Science and a Ph.D. in Religious Education. He has written and spoken extensively about the U.S. education system versus the historical mentored-classical education of earlier America.



Shanon Brooks is the president of Face to Face with Greatness Seminars, which teaches the popular principles of A Thomas Jefferson Education.  He is also the owner of Plutarch Publishing which distributes the printed materials that outline the philosophy of Leadership Education.  He is a former president of George Wythe University and a founder of the Center for Social Leadership Co-author of A Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a master’s degree in education, and a PhD in constitutional law. 





The TJEd Family Library


A Thomas Jefferson Education – Thomas Jefferson Education (TJEd) is, in essence, the educational system and societal perspective developed and adhered to in America for 300 years (from the mid 1600’s to the mid 1900’s). It is responsible for the corps of American leaders, inventors, businessmen, statesmen, judges, legislators, presidents and clergy that made America what she was during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was the predominant cultural philosophy of America from the opening of Harvard through World War I. This book easily describes the 7 keys and 5 environments of Great Teaching –the core of TJEd and the science of how and why people learn. You will never look at education the same again.

Thomas Jefferson Education for TeensHow to discover your genius, identify your mission and get a great education that makes you come alive. Filled with valuable books lists, motivational discovery processes and keen insight into the future, this is a must read for all young and not-so-young adults.

Leadership EducationThe Four Phases of Learning have long been understood in academia, but seldom taught in American teacher colleges. Rather than focusing the primary effort into the right curriculum, behavior management styles and classroom furniture, Leadership Education delves into how a child ticks, their interests, their tendencies and then builds a program around where they are. This book will revolutionize the very way you view your children.

The Coming Aristocracy The Coming Aristocracy is compelling, timely and vital. With piercing clarity, Oliver DeMille explains our current economic ad political systems and resurrects the principles that made America great. Most importantly, he clearly describes what we can do as individuals, families, and communities to right our floundering ship. This my be one of the most important book you’ll read this year.”
Steve D’Annunzio-Soul Purpose Institute

The 5,000 Year LeapThe 28 Great Ideas that made America the bastion of freedom for the whole world. “The most impressive element in this outstanding book on political philosophy is the fact that these precepts are precisely what America needs today. It is alarming to think of the billions of dollars which are expended each year trying to solve problems by methods which the Founders knew were fallacious. They attempted to warn us, to share their wisdom with us. Too often their counsel has been ignored. Now we must return to them.” Orrin Hatch-U.S. Senate


Groups and Key Individuals to Whom We have Spoken
  • Kawanis
  • Quikstar
  • Members of the Idaho State Legislature
  • Members of the Utah State Legislature
  • U.S. Congressional Breakfast Club
  • Rotary International
  • Glenn Beck
  • Various Community Groups
Testimonials

Thanks so much for having Dr. Brooks out here to speak.  We enjoyed the encouragement and reminders we heard. My husband teaches 6th grade Ancient History and 8th grade Bible at Oaks Christian.  It is a great school BUT it doesn't follow TJed.  He naturally incorporates some things into his classroom but it is always a challenge.  Tonight he had to leave in order to grade papers so we couldn't stay to talk to you. Please pass on to Dr. Brooks that our 11 year old enjoyed hearing him speak.  He fully agreed that encouragement from Dad means something different than encouragement from Mom :)

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Thank you for coordinating this lecture.  It was very generous of Dr. Brooks to offer his time, enthusiasm, and ideas.  Somehow there is a difference between reading a philosophical model and trying to apply it, and listening to someone who is passionate about that model and feeling inspired. I only wish that Will could have been at the lecture!  I thought that the male-to-male message was very strong and affirming - something so rarely conveyed today.  I think that men, more than women, are measured by the "skill sets" of their children, especially their boys.

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I just wanted to thank you again for last night. I feel so inspired. I got home and read until 11:30, and can't wait to start building a foundational library of classics, and begin reading them with the girls! 

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Thank you SO much for all the hard work you put into having Dr. Brooks speak last night!  It was absolutely wonderful -- he was just so inspiring!   For me personally it was fantastic to have Gabe there hearing Dr. Brooks for himself.  It is so much more powerful than hearing me go on and on about all the TJed stuff.  In fact, I think there's a good chance that Gabe is going to want to go to the third Face to Face seminar with me now!

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I really really loved that lecture.  It was so inspiring - he's possibly the best speaker I've seen to date.  My only regret was that I couldn't stay long enough to talk to him personally about his suggestions for teachers in the classroom.  I wondered if you might have an email contact that I could use to connect with him on that topic?

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I thought last night was fantastic. I have read most of DeMille's books and have attended the first face-to-face seminar, but I've never really heard TJEd explained quite like Dr. Brooks explained it last night. It really hit home for me because he focused on love, family, and values. He helped me really see and feel the importance of his message and made me believe that, 1) it wasn't a message that I could ignore and 2) it was a message that I needed to share far and wide. I came home and had a long talk with my husband about some of Dr. Brooks' suggestions to make our family stronger. I spent some time talking with each of my children. I now know and believe that if my children feel my love and support for them they will be more successful than if they spend hundreds of hours bent over books or in classes. Not that he didn't advocate great books, but for my situation personally there needs to be some improvements in our relationships before education can thrive.

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I'd love for him to come back. I would definitely make the drive again to hear him speak. I would love for him to expand on what we can do in our own communities to spread this message. How we can help others get on the bandwagon to preserve freedom, solidify families, and get back to our foundation roots? I don't have any negative feedback at all. I found the entire evening fascinating. I found Dr. Brooks to be engaging, funny, but most of all "real." I spoke to him afterwards about some personal issues in my home and it was like the crowd disappeared and I was sitting in front of a good friend. His passion for helping others made his presentation work, just like our passion and love for our families and children will make it work in our own homes. Thank you very much for a wonderful evening.

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What sang to me: loved the spousal relationship is #1 sense of security and development for kids (always good to be reminded how WE are examples), loved MATCH, LATCH, LEAD (I was seeking more of this type of example, etc), Dad's praise is key- Great insight, Loved "model inspiration" (golf was his ex).  All that said I would go again is a second.  He's a great speaker.  I am now going to go back and read his stuff! !

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As an educator, I liked the approach to learning that he described. I believe that it is far more beneficial to teach virtues while creating a learning environment. I too believe that children will inherently know their own path if nurtured. They are like little seeds! I enjoyed Dr. Brooks’ style of speech too. He was able to keep me captivated. The part about parenting and marriage was helpful. It made good sense. Overall, the lecture was informative and I enjoyed it. Thank you.

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