Agatha Christie was the third child born to Clara and Frederick Miller, a family that lived in Victorian England. Unlike their first two children, who were witty and outgoing like their father, Agatha was a shy, quiet girl.
Fortunately, Agatha’s wise mother was quick to see and understand the nature of her daughter. Rather than sending her off to school, which would have likely been quite painful for the shy girl, Agatha’s mother educated her at home. The attention young Agatha received from her mother allowed her to blossom into a successful woman who lived a long and happy life.
Another important factor that helped to positively develop young Agatha was the love shared between her mother and her father. Later in life, Agatha claimed that her parent’s marriage was one of only four completely successful marriages she’d observed in her long life.
Whether you homeschool or not, Agatha Christie’s life contains some important lessons that all parents can take to heart. First, remember that when it comes to your children, you are irreplaceable. Second, like Agatha Christie, your kids will benefit tremendously by seeing a husband and wife who consistently demonstrate love for each other.
Douglas MacArthur was a general’s general. Born in 1880, he led men into combat in World War I, World War II, and the Korean Conflict. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, as well as many other decorations. He came by his military ability quite naturally since his father, Arthur MacArthur, Jr., was also awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor in the Civil War decades earlier.
In his younger years, Douglas MacArthur lived on a succession of army posts. A regular public school education was impossible, so his mother instructed him in reading, writing, and arithmetic. More importantly, she also instilled in him two principles that stayed with him throughout his life: first, to do what was right no matter what the personal sacrifice might be; and second, that our country must always come first. Through the example set by his father, and the books and teachings he received from his mother, Douglas learned about courage and heroism.
MacArthur went on to graduate from West Point with the third highest overall scores in the history of that institution. I pray that the perseverance of today’s homeschool parents will produce yet another generation of leaders who will guide our country back to the principles of honor and freedom held by such men as Douglas MacArthur.
Born in 1812, Charles Dickens would become one of the world’s most celebrated novelists by his early 20s. It is recorded that his first years of education were received from his mother. In his own words, Dickens gives her the credit for teaching him to read and write.
Although he later attended school, there is no doubt that his mother’s influence had a profound effect on Dickens’ life. When you read Dickens, his emphasis on family relationships is immediately noticeable. His characters were often formed by the impression he received from his parents, grandparents, and other relatives.
Charles Dickens died at the age of 58, ending a very prolific writing career. All told, he created over 2,000 characters and personalities in stories like David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and A Tale of Two Cities, in books which grace the libraries of homes everywhere. In fact, my older daughter Jayme reads the well-known story, A Christmas Carol, from Dickens, aloud to her younger siblings each Christmas Eve as a family tradition.
Charles Dickens was a literary genius, and yet another example of the influence that parents can have when they are committed to directing the education of their children.
Born in 1756, Wolfang Amadeus Mozart was trained from birth to be a virtuoso musician. His father, Leopold Mozart, while encouraging the boy in music, educated him at home almost exclusively, teaching him reading, writing, arithmetic, history, and geography at a very early age.
Leopold Mozart was a musician by profession, and he began to teach his son to play the keyboard at the age of 3. Wolfgang Amadeus was writing his own keyboard music at the age of 4.
Mozart was an excellent student, and his father inspired him to strive for excellence in whatever he did. This began to pay off as Mozart was invited to play before royalty. Proverbs states: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings” (Proverbs 22:29; NASB). Mozart went on to have a successful career composing a myriad of works still loved and played today.
Although your child may not have the musical genius of Mozart, you can still adopt the methods employed by Mozart’s dedicated father. Leopold Mozart was dedicated to the education of his son, committed to excellence, and determined to encourage his son’s natural abilities. We can—and we should—do the same thing for our own children.
Blaise Pascal was born in France in 1623 and educated by his father, Etienne. For some reason, his father decided not to teach his son mathematics until he reached the age of 15. But Blaise Pascal was gifted by God with a natural curiosity, and began to work on geometry by himself at age 12. His study of geometry and hydrodynamics led him to invent the syringe and the hydraulic press.
However, Pascal was more than just a scientist. Later in life, a near-death experience caused him to write these words, which he eventually stitched into the lining of his jacket. He wrote: “Fire. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. Not of the philosophers and intellects. The God of Jesus Christ. My God and your God. Forgetfulness of the world and everything except God.”
He is also known for the famous “Pascal’s Wager,” attempting to prove that belief in God is rational. He states: “If God does not exist, one will lose nothing by believing in Him; while if He does exist, one will lose everything by not believing.” He later went on to write Pensées, a philosophical collection of personal thoughts on human suffering and faith in God.
Blaise Pascal—another tribute to the success of home education.
From the Homeschool Heartbeat Radio Program – written by Mike Farris, HSLDA
Blueberries, as most berries, carry a lot of antioxidant power. Blueberries are one of the highest in antioxidants. Could they also help with diabetes and getting rid of your fat?
Does the media have you worrying about the economy? Now they’ve got some running and worrying about their health! Chill, Malaria is 100 times more likely to become a pandemic than the swine flu. Don’t believe the hype. Here’s an interesting article to counteract the hype of our “bad” economy:
