Character in a Box: Self-Government I

Oh be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little eyes what you see

There's a Father up above

And He's looking down in love

So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little ears what you hear

There's a Father up above

And He's looking down in love

So, be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little hands what you do

There's a Father up above

And He's looking down in love

So, be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little feet where you go

There's a Father up above

And He's looking down in love

So, be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little mouth what you say

O be careful little mouth what you say

There's a Father up above

And He's looking down in love

So, be careful little mouth what you say

Forgiveness

The School Year Begins

This week we begin school. I spent much of the summer designing an American Christian Economics course based on James Rose's book, "A Guide to American Christian Education", preparing a "Classic Grammar" course, and going through the mentorship level of the "Principles of American Government" skype course. Here you will see what I have outlined for the first week of classes:

Setting up the notebook

 

Cover Page--Goal is to create interest in the subject and a reason to learn it. You could include a verse, quote, or poem. Anything that would be meaningful to your child and/or your family. Think of way to express individuality on your cover page. Individuality of your child, your family, or your subject (i.e., illustrate it, take a picture and add to the page, diagram a sentence, work a math problem, include a timeline, ...).

Binder Tabs--This year I figured that my son was old enough to create his own tabs. He chose to use the computer and learned about using online templates to create his tabs. Just be sure to include a tab for "Vocabulary."

Classroom Constitution--You will find some excellent examples of a Classroom Constitution at the FACE website. (You will have to join in order to see the printable examples.) We enjoyed reading--and signing--our Classroom Constitution and placing it right after the cover page in the notebook.

Introduction of Text and Other Resources--I have found Pinterest to be a great resource for storing Internet links for the class. It is also possible to create a blog just to store the links you would like to use for your particular course.

Define Course--We defined "American Christian Economics" beginning with the word "Economics", then we added "Christian", and finally "American." Of course we used the Webster's 1828 dictionary. It is important that everyone agrees on what the course is about!

Course Outline--After spending many hours developing the American Christian Economics course, it was a pleasure to briefly overview it with my son. On the other hand, if you have no outline, you could probably copy the Table of Contents of your textbook, review it, then place this behind the Classroom Constitution.

Next time... Establishing Routines

Noah Webster, Blue Back Speller

We can thank Noah Webster for the Blue Back Speller (also known as the American Spelling Book) and the dictionary. His 1828 Dictionary is the only Christian dictionary ever written! Interesting that this was published around the same time as our nation was being formed, making his definition of words the same as what our founding fathers were thinking when they wrote the Constitution and Declaration of Independence! Something to think about.

Let's take a minute to look up Noah Webster's definition of Education and Marriage:

EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.

MAR'RIAGE, n. [L.mas, maris.] The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity,and for securing the maintenance and education of children.

Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled. Heb.13.

Did you know that Noah Webster's famous famous Blue Back Speller has set a publishing record that just may be unequalled by any other textbook ever written in America! Published in the mid 1780s, it became the standard for an entire century--when our nation was being formed in the late 1700s and 1800s. More than 100,000,000 copies were sold. This text was the standard of every American child's education. What did it teach? Aside from English and Grammar, it taught the "principles of a republican form of government l[that] had their origin in the Scriptures" and embodied "a love of virtue, patriotism and religion," so that all Americans would be furnished with the foundation for liberty and a way of life that could bring the most happiness and success.

Noah Webster, Salvation Experience

Noah Webster's salvation experience provides great insight into the character of this man who had a profound affect on the education of our country in its founding era. He was a thorough man, not given to emotion or spontaneous impulse, unwilling to be led astray by the majority. You will also note he was a gentleman to his wife and daughters, treating them with love and trust. And, of course, he was an outstanding scholar. In fact, Noah Webster is considered to be the "Founding Father of American Scholarship and Education."

Below is his written testimony, from a letter to his brother-in-law, Judge Thomas Dawes:

"For a number of years just past I have been more and more impressed with the importance of regulating my conduct by the precepts of Christianity. Of the being and attributes of God I have never entertained a doubt, and my studies as well as frequent contemplations on the works of nature have led my mind to most sublime views of His character and perfections...

"Still I had doubts respecting some of the doctrines of the Christian faith, such as regeneration, election, salvation by grace, the atonement, and the divinity of Christ; these doubts served as an apology for my forbearing to make a profession of religion; for though I could never read or hear that solemn declaration of our Savior, 'Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father who is in heaven,' without some compunction and alarm; yet I endeavored to justify my neglect by a persuasion that I could not conscientiously assent to the usual confession required in Calvinistic churches as the condition of admission to their communion,. That is, in plain terms, I sheltered myself as well as I could from the attacks of conscience for neglect of duty under a species of skepticism, and endeavored to satisfy my mind that a profession of religion is not absolutely necessary to salvation. In this state of mind I placed great reliance on good works, or the performance of moral duties as the means of salvation, although I cannot affirm that I wholly abandoned all dependence on the merits of a Redeemer. You may easily suppose that in this state of distraction and indecision of opinions I neglected many duties of piety.

Trinity Church on the Green may have been where the revival took place.

"About a year ago an unusual revival of religion took place in New Haven, and frequent conferences of private meetings for religious purposes were held by pious and well disposed persons in the Congregational societies. I felt some opposition to these meetings, being apprehensive that they would, by affecting the passions too strongly, introduce an enthusiasm or fanaticism which might be considered as real religion. I expressed these fears to some friends and particularly to my family, inculcating on them the importance of a rational religion and the danger of being misled by the passions.

"My wife, however, was friendly to these meetings and she was joined by two eldest daughters who were among the first subjects of serious impressions. I did not forbid but rather discouraged their attendance on conferences...

"These impressions I attempted to remove by reasoning with myself and endeavoring to quiet my mind by a persuasion that my opposition to my family and the awakening was not a real opposition to rational religion but to enthusiasm or false religion. I continued some weeks in this situation, utterly unable to quiet my own mind and without resorting to the only source of peace and consolation. The impressions, however, grew stronger till at length I could not pursue my studies without frequent interruptions. My mind was suddenly arrested, without any previous circumstance of the time to draw it to this subject and, as it were, fastened to the awakening and upon my own conduct. I closed my books, yielded to the influence which could not be resisted or mistaken, and was led by a spontaneous impulse to repentance, prayer, and entire submission and surrender of myself to my Maker and Redeemer. My submission appeared to be cheerful, and was soon followed by that peace of mind which the world can neither give nor take away..." (American Dictionary of the English Language, Republished by Foundation for American Christian Education, (c) 1967, Rosalie J. Slater, pg. 19).

3 Forms of Teaching

It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives. (John Adams, Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1756).

teach TEACH, v.t. pret. and pp. taught. [L. doceo; dico, dicto, and both these and the Gr. to show, may be of one family; all implying sending, passing, communicating, or rather leading, drawing. 1. To instruct; to inform; to communicate to another the knowledge of that of which he was before ignorant. He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. Is.2. Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. Luke 11.

The goal is to instruct, inform, communicate to our children that which will elevate their minds, exalt their courage, and accelerate their industry and to encourage them to excel in virtue. But, where to begin...

After years of teaching/learning, I have experienced (both as teacher and as student) 3 forms of teaching:

1) Student centered. Workbooks and computers are often used in this type of teaching. The motivation to learn comes from the author of the computer program or the artist/writer of the workbook.

2) Subject centered. Setting up learning stations would be an example of this type of education. There are many textbooks that provide information and facts, but without context. Result: The student questions why this is important and why he must invest himself in math when he would much rather be doing just about anything else. History is often taught this way--a sequence of facts, people, and events (results) to be memorized with no attention to motivations (causes).

3) Teacher-centered. This is the method that Jesus, our Master Teacher, used. He epitomized everything that He taught. A look at His style of teaching reveals that it would be necessary for the teacher to model by example in order for her children to learn from her.

Mark 4:1 KJV

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

What are you teaching your children by example? Would you be willing to invest your time and effort to teach more like Jesus? If so, let the journey begin...

Essential Quotes

Patrick Henry

It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.

Abigail Adams

Letter to JohnQuincy Adams, 1783

What is it that affectionate parents require of their Children; for all their care, anxiety, and toil on their accounts? Only that they would be wise and virtuous, Benevolent and kind.

Abigail Adams

Letter to John Adams, 1784

I hope some future day will bring me the happiness of seeing my family again collected under our own roof, happy in ourselves and blessed in each other.

John Adams

Defense of the Constitutions — 1787

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.

John Adams

Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law — 1756

It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives.

Samuel Adams

Letter to James Warren — 1775

No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffusd and Virtue is preservd. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauchd in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.

Samuel Adams

If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.

Charles Carroll

Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure which ensures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.

Jim Elliott

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Benjamin Franklin

Men will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.

Noah Webster

Education is useless without the Bible.

Why Webster's 1828 Dictionary?

The Importance of Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How to 4-R (Take Dominion of) a Subject

"I taught this to my daughter when she was in high school. As a result she can take any subject out of the newspaper and com up with the solution... It works." (Ben Gilmore, Principles of American Government course, May 2013.)

 

1. Take any subject.
2. Go to Webster's 1828 dictionary and look up the definition of the subject.
3. Select key words from the definition.
4. Look up those words in the 1828 dictionary.
5. Select key words, repeat the system again. May end up with a list of 100+ words.

You have just discovered the vocabulary over which the subject you want to take dominion; i.e., the vocabulary for the subject.

Next...

1. Organize the vocabulary into its obvious breakdown. For instance, mathematics--vocabulary, operations, units of measure and quantities, etc.
2. Next, and this is key, pull out Strong's concordance. Look up key words in the vocabulary in Strongs. Inevitably the first and last mention in the Bible of that word will be a key to the subject.
3. You will have found the Biblical foundation for the subject you are taking dominion of.

The concordance is a bridge to the Biblical foundation of the subject.

From here, you can deduce:

• main principles
• leading ideas
• God's purpose for the subject
• major divisions of the subject
• course goals The

The reason for finding the Biblical foundation of a subject is to train the character of the student. The purpose of education is character--not knowledge. Knowledge without character will turn on you; it becomes a Frankenstein monster. This is why teenagers think they are so much smarter than their parents--they are trained in knowledge and not character.

Once this method is learned, one can take any problem out of the newspaper and come up with the solution.

To see an example of a mini-word study, you might like to visit Heather over at Principled Academy and see what she discovered about the word "rib" when she 4-R'd the word.

FACE has created a course for those interested in further study of the 4-R method of learning. The course is designed to guide the participant through an in depth personal study of the Seven Principles of American Christian History and Government using the 4-R'ing Method.

Do your own word study. You might find it helpful to use the Principle Approach Word Study Standard template to get you started.  

What is the purpose of education?

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. (John Adams, 1787, Defense of the Constitutions)

EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.

According to Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary, the purpose of education is primarily character development--enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth. And, by definition, the responsibility rests first on parents, and then on guardians.

Whoa! By definition, the original intent and purpose for the subject is quite different than what we see today. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a definition of education on the National Education Association (NEA) website. However, according to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary from Infoplease, education is defined as:

1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
2. the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession.
3. a degree, level, or kind of schooling: a university education.
4. the result produced by instruction, training, or study: to show one's education.
5. the science or art of teaching; pedagogics.

It appears to me that Noah Webster originally defined this topic as an internal training of the character of the individual which has been manipulated today to be a process that affects the intellect rather than character.

*Note: After at least 30 minutes searching the NEA site for a definition of education, I decided to email requesting such. I will let you know what they say--if they reply... Sorry, it has been over a month and I have received no reply.

With these definitions in mind, take a moment to come up with your own definition of education. 

- Where do the ideas that form your definition come from?