We sat at the feet of Giants

I have homeschooled my children for about 9 years now.  I will always remember the day that my Dad called me with some information on a "new" method of homeschooling that I might be interested in.  It changed my life.

I had not previously considered homeschooling, in fact, I had visions of cute backpacks, and lunchboxes, and artwork on my refrigerator.  But the reality was, and still is, that I have a few issues with the public school system.  But that's a completely different subject.

This last week, we attended the first Woodsmoke Gathering in Tetonia, ID.  First of all, what a great location.  We literally "sat at the feet of giants" all week, with a great view of the Grand Teton Mountains.  One could feel the history, and the awe of being in the presence of such greatness.

But the giants to which I referred in the title of this post are of a more figurative variety.  They are the same sort of edifice as the Teton's, but you do not stand in awe unless you know more than that which meets the eye.

This Woodsmoke Gathering was a "re-encampent" in the old style.  Think Mountain Men and Trappers.  Think Colonial times and great explorers.  Think wide open spaces and fresh air, good food and great company.  We had all of those things, just as the original campers did.

Our family has attended several primitive skills gatherings, but this was the first of this specific kind, a brainchild of Dave Wescott and Steve Watts, two of the "giants" who see the value of this work.  The purpose was somewhat similar to the other gatherings we've attended, and that was to educate and experience.  Many skills were shared and each of the students got into it, up to their elbows.  I will be forever grateful to those mentors who showed up to share.  I saw the light in my children's eyes as they learned and discovered and gained confidence in themselves.  What an amazing event, to give us so much in one week.

The method I use for homeschooling is the Leadership education model, or A Thomas Jefferson Education.  (I have somewhat fallen off and jumped back on the "conveyor belt" model through the years. My most recent fall was a week before we left for this gathering.  What clarity this event gave me, as to the realities of what my children need/want.)

I know that this blog entry will be quite lengthy.  I want to get it all down before it slips my mind.  I don't know if anyone reads it anyway...I kind of hope not :)  I am just now getting to the meat of what's been bouncing around in my head.  Buckle up.

In TJEd, as given by Dr. Oliver DeMille, there are 8 keys of great teaching and 5 phases of learning.  For the first time in my life, I viewed this in a very real sense, and in 3 dimensions, and in living color.  As this truth came to light for me, I wandered about in awe.  I would quietly observe, hopefully looking entranced by the knowledge being shared, but really, I was making connections in my mind.  These connections are a long, long time in the making.  I have been puzzling about this for these last 9 years!!!

The phases of learning are these:

1. Core phase - in which a student builds their core foundation.  Right and Wrong, good and bad, true and false are learned.  The "giants" of our last week each found core phase in the outdoors.  Something grabbed their attention, whether it was a children's book about Daniel Boone or some sort of artifact landing in their little paw.
2. Love of Learning Phase - in which a child begins to experience the exhilaration of expanding ones horizons.  The "giants" each had encounters with great writers, they each quoted Kephart, Nessmuk, Holding, and.ironically, each others books.  It is evident that in their young years, they each dove in with both feet, heart and soul to learn about primitive skills, and all that goes along with it.
3. Scholar Phase - in which a student becomes a scholar.  This phase holds thousands of hours of voluntary study.  A student begins to realize their passion or mission in life.  Many of the "giants" could quote straight out of their favorite books, stating what was important to them, and why.  Each has a passion.  Each knows a great deal.
4. Depth Phase - in which one explores one subject in great depth, to their heart's content (this can take years) before moving on to another subject with the same goal in mind. By comparison, Love of Learning is more about breadth; learning a lot about a lot of subjects. Each of the "giants" was an expert at something, most of them about many things! This man could teach fire, that one knots, another could teach everything there is to know about wild edibles, and so on. This phase is about gaining expertise, it seems.
5. Mission Phase - in which a person begins to apply all of their knowledge and wisdom, and share it freely with those who are ready.  This phase is almost extinct by the "conveyor belt" model, because most people of proper mission phase age are thinking only of retirement, and a house on the beach.  What a waste of valuable resources!  That is what our society would have us do.  Each of the "giants" was old enough to retire and take to the recliner, but instead camped out with us, sleeping on cots and roughing it in the name of passing on all that they have.

Something else that I noted was a commonality of purpose.  Each of these men saw the value of what they were learning, as a means of helping people to find themselves.  They saw an opportunity to liberate the captive, to teach people of their inherent value through the use of God's creations.  And they have done this NOT at the risk of their own families.  That is the second part of the common thread I noticed:  they each chose family first.

Quickly, the 8 keys of great teaching are:
1. Classics, not Textbooks
2. Mentors, not professors
3. Inspire, not require
4. Structure time, not content
5. Quality, not conformity
6. Simplicity, not complexity
7. You, not them
8. Secure, not stressed

The next generation.....

I could go on an on about how each of these was present, but by now your bum is numb, your eyes are blurring, and you have probably quite given up reading my nonsense.  I almost can't restrain myself for all of the excitement I feel at having been exposed to truth, to greatness, to true mentors!  This is what it's all about!  This is education!  Finally, after years of looking and wondering what was meant by these phases and keys, I understand.  The clouds have parted, and I can see.

The final word:  if everyone could be exposed to true mentors in a field in which they are deeply interested, this world would be a different place all together.  We witnessed mentors/mentees to the third generation.  Olsen mentored Wescott who mentored so many through his educating career.  Kochanski mentored Smith who, likewise, has made a career of passing it on.  The originals of this generation, the classics, the great ones were there.  They are fulfilling their purpose on this earth.

And we sat at their feet for a week.

"The Giants" - Goring, Wescott, Holladay, Olsen, Kochanski, Watts and Smith