A Thomas Jefferson Education Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century [Paperback]

Oliver Van Demille (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: George Wythe College Press (2000)
• ISBN-10: 0967124611
• ISBN-13: 978-0967124612
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Oliver DeMille is the founder and former president of George Wythe University, a founding partner of The Center for Social Leadership, and the author of A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the 21st Century.

He and his wife Rachel are the developers of Thomas Jefferson Education, an educational philosophy and methodology for building mission-driven leaders.

Oliver is a popular author, keynote speaker, and business consultant. Presently, he devotes a majority of his time to writing. He and his wife Rachel are raising their 8 children in southern Utah.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOW TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILD FOR GREATNESS, June 26, 2004

By 

George Stancliffe (Toppenish, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Thomas Jefferson Education Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century (Paperback)

A Thomas Jefferson Education is perhaps the most important book published in the field of education in at least 20 years.

It is based on the educational method that George Wythe used when he taught many of the founding fathers (George Wythe was the teacher that taught Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, James Madison, and over 20 other Founding Fathers (Senators, Representatives, Governors and Judges). Clearly, George Wythe was a key man behind the scenes of the birth of the USA and the Consitiution.

The method used to educate Thomas Jefferson (and all great leaders throughout history) is simply this:

1) Classics and Mentoring
2) Depth and Breadth
3) Quality and Application

DeMille notes: "Whatever the culture, look at its greatest leaders and you will find that they were
1) guided by at least one mentor and
2) made a lifetime study of classic works."

So, what does this imply about our current school system based on standardized textbooks and tests, tests and more tests? It is just a "conveyor belt" preparing us for mediocrity ("a job").

Get this book and learn how to mentor your children with the Classics so they will have a chance of making a difference.

A Thomas Jefferson Education = LEADERSHIP Education.

41 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daniel Felsted "IFmarketing.com", April 22, 2005

By 

Daniel C. Felsted "TheImageFoundry_biz" (Hyrum, Utah United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Thomas Jefferson Education Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century (Paperback)

This book puts the right person in charge. You! Oliver Van DeMille show the tried and true methods to succeed in the world and business world today. Harvard School of Law, Princeton University and George Wythe College list the top 30 skills needed to secure the job of your dreams! See list below.

DeMille argues that our public school system is a major component of the problem with education in America today. As a product of our public school system...one who has take more than 20 years to make up for this I found this book a vital read to every parent.

With easy-to-follow guidelines and a take-control-of-your-children's-education approach you will learn how to mentor your children to succeed. Our society is in desperate need of leaders and A Thomas Jefferson Education shows you just how to make leaders of your children-by taking charge and leading.

As a corporate marketing trainer I teach customers service and employee training classes. I see the need for self-motivated employees. I see the need for improved customer service across industries. I feel that the skills to succeed today are obtainable through personal study, reading, and education and DeMille builds the case and describes how to do it.

If you really care about the success of your children get and read this book and as DeMille advises start reading classic literature and discuss what you learn with them and they will have the foundation to be the great people and great leaders that our country needs! It's fun, it's not hard though it is difficult but worth it!



Top 30 Skills needed to secure the job of your dreams!

To secure the job you want there are a number of minimum criteria that businesses look for. If you are not prepared you will not be hired. What are you doing to be prepared to get the job of your dreams?

Harvard School of Law's Required Skills
1. The ability to define problems without a guide.
2. The ability to ask hard questions which challenge prevailing assumptions.
3. The ability to quickly assimilate needed data from masses of irrelevant information.
4. The ability to work in teams without guidance.
5. The ability to work absolutely alone.
6. The ability to persuade others that your course is the right one.
7. The ability to conceptualize and reorganization information into new patterns.
8. The ability to discuss ideas with an eye toward application.
9-10. The ability to think inductively, deductively and dialectically.

Princeton's Required Skills
1. The ability to think, speak, and write clearly.
2. The ability to reason critically and systematically.
3. The ability to conceptualize and solve problems.
4. The ability to think independently.
5. The ability to take initiative and work independently.
6. The ability to work in cooperation with others and learn collaboratively.
7. The ability to judge what it means to understand something thoroughly.
8. The ability to distinguish the important from the trivial, the enduring from the ephemeral.
9. Familiar with different modes of thought (including quantitative, historical, scientific, and aesthetic).
10. Depth of knowledge in a particular field.
11. The ability to see connections among disciplines, ideas and cultures.
12. The ability to pursue life lone learning.

George Wythe's Required Skills
1. The ability to understand human nature and lead accordingly.
2. The ability to identify needed personal traits and turn them into habits.
3. The ability to establish, maintain and improve lasting relationships.
4. The ability to keep one's life in proper balance.
5. The ability to discern truth and error regardless of the source, or the delivery.
6. The ability to discern true from right.
7. The ability and discipline to do right.
8. The ability and discipline to constantly improve.


Taken from A Thomas Jefferson Education, George Wythe College Press, 2000, p124-130

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Van Demille Nails What an Education Should Be, November 29, 2005

By 

K. J. Larson "Mentor/Facilitator" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Thomas Jefferson Education Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century (Paperback)

Van Demille argues that even though there are many quality teachers in the school system, the quality of educations has suffered from a reliance on curriculum, pedagogy, standardized tests, rote memorization, and a "conveyor belt" mentality that has lowered expectations to an unacceptable level. As a College Professor, I require my students to read this book. They need to step out of their perception that the institution or instructor is responsible for their education and realize that the responsibility lies with them. Parents should also understand this principal and not blame the school or teacher for their child's poor performance. In my Critical Thinking and Reasoning courses, the student's reflection essays enthusiastically endorse the concepts described by the author as they come realize why they struggle with college level requirements. I endorse the concepts of Van Dmille's thesis to anyone interested in why some individuals rise to leadership positions while others do not.