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

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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.

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

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.

My theories, hopes, expectations, and dreams for homeschooling our children are all laid out in this book. It has classic book lists in the back divided by age range (Dr. Seuss is on the list!), step-by-step instructions for how to become an effective mentor to your child or classroom, and succinctly and interestingly describes the current failures of "traditional" classroom methodology. (I'm a former public school teacher, and I agree from experience!)

The only place I disagree with the author is in learning a foreign language - he states we should read a classic in the target language and discuss it. Reading don Quijote in Spanish to anyone who doesn't already know Spanish, will sound like gibberish...So to get a head start on your young one knowing a second language try Workbook and CD like Flip Flop Spanish instead.

Otherwise, this book is quick and extremely informational to read, and in another year, I look forward to testing its theories in our daily practical lives!

Having read numerous books on homeschooling ideas and techniques, I was not enthusiastic about this one. The concept of reading and discussing classic literature is not the problem with this book, rather it is Mr. DeMille's tone which is simplistic and vapid. At times it felt like one big advertisement for the college Mr. DeMille founded. Given the subject matter, I expected more substance and less fluff.

If you are serious about a good education for your children and want to use classic literature there are far more excellent books on the market with the same theme, such as, "The Well-Trained Mind," "A Charlotte Mason Companion," and "Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning." These books are more inspiring, convicting and contain better examples than "A TJ Education."

Very few books can reach into your mind and heart and be the catalyst to making concrete changes in your daily life. A Thomas Jefferson Education is one of these powerhouses. A newer version has been released and I recommend you start with that one. But prepare yourself to challenge the way you have always thought about education and start an exciting, new journey - for yourself and your kids.

We've been homeschooling for 8 years using this book as our foundation. Thomas Jefferson Education isn't a curriculum or a method but it's a set of principles that can be applied to any educational setting. You can choose to use the resources that you think are best for your family while applying them in a way that will be the most effective. This book really changed our family for the best as we have learned to not focus just on academics but instead focus on character and leadership. The academics are coming along beautifully but more important has been the kind of people that I am seeing my children become. I HIGHLY recommend this book and it's newer edition!

A Thomas Jefferson Education is an essential building block for anyone who desires to get a real education. It lays the foundation and background of what really constitutes a classical education. This should be required reading for every educator in every setting both pre and post service, and every parent or anyone thinking of becoming parents. It's that good!

I read this book 5 years ago. It convinced me to bring my children home and give them a leadership education. It makes sense! I have never regretted my decision. I own this book, the newer version A Thomas Jefferson Education and now the DeMille's latest book, Leadership Education. I highly recommend them all! The DeMille's live these principles and very generously share them with those of us who want something better for our children -- and our future!

During a time that many are rediscovering the wisdom of the founders we now learn the educational method used to set many of them on the path to greatness. Our government run education system is broken and more and more parents are searching for the best way to take charge of educating their children and this book should be central to that goal. READ THIS BOOK!