"Hacking Your Education," by Dale J. Stephens

Dale J. Stephens left traditional school at 12 years old to become an unschooler. After giving college a try, he discovered that fellow students were more interested in partying than learning. He quickly concluded that if the best experiences were to be had outside the classroom, it made no sense to pay tens of thousands of dollars to sit in the classroom. He dropped out of college, and ended up founding Uncollege.org.

In his inaugural book, Hacking Your Education: Ditch the Lectures, Save Tens of Thousands, and Learn More than Your Peers Ever Will, Mr. Stephens proceeds to undo the myth that a college degree guarantees job security and happiness. He shows that with a little gumption, people can create their own educational path, build networks of mentors and supporters, and make some close friends along the way.

Hacking is often associated with computer hackers, tech-savvy people who break into computers to spy or drop viruses. In the sense of education, hacking means breaking away from the tradition-bound structure of education to design an lifelong learning mentality which doesn't rely on being spoon-fed what those in academia assume is needed in the real world. Mr.Stephens does make an exception for careers that require highly specialized training, such as medical doctors, but perhaps even they could benefit from a little hacking.

In addition to describing his experience with education and real life, Mr. Stephens shares the stories of others who have taken it upon themselves to be responsible for their own learning and success. We meet Tiffany Mikell who, despite being a young black single mother without a college degree, discovered a talent for JavaScript programming and ended up working at Accenture. We learn about Christian Keller, who dropped out of school when he was thirteen and is now, at 25, working on a film with Barrie Osborne (producer on Lord of the Rings and The Matrix). The pages are littered with people who took control of their education.

One of my favorite parts of Hacking Your Education is the "Hack of the Day" at the end of each section. Each "Hack of the Day" focuses on the idea just presented and gives hands on tools for incorporating it into your life. Whether it's planning a "brain party," finding out "what you aren't talented at," or making "the most of $100 a week," the ideas are doable and in small enough doses that they don't become overwhelming. Even though I am well beyond my college years, I look forward to trying many of these ideas to expand my experiences and create opportunities for my children.

Mr. Stephens is an extrovert, so many of the techniques he uses come easily to him. He acknowledges this and suggests a more low-key approach for the introverts among us. Even doing a little of what he describes will put most people light-years ahead of the crowd stuck in college lectures on subjects they must take in order to get to the classes they really want to attend in two or three years.

I do have one quibble with the book, and that is the use of profanity. As I have already admitted, "young" parted ways with my "adult" many years ago. I also realize that this book is aimed at older teens to young adults, not their parents. While interspersing the f-word here and the s-word there may make Mr. Stephens sound like one of the people his book targets, those very words detract from the message, drawing attention away from the text and instead pulling it to themselves. This is language one may use among friends, but certainly not when putting on our adult persona. And the author (and editor, who should have excised these from the text) needs to remember that many parents will be reading this book before passing it on to their kids. There is a market beyond the target, and writers and editors need to be sensitive to those pocketbooks.

Having said that, I still recommend Hacking Your Education. The overall message and specific action items far outweigh any language issues. Going into debt for an education that guarantees nothing but classes, homework, and a piece of paper, doesn't make sense in this age of information access. With a library card, Internet access, and passion, people can create their own path in life, without the debt and lost time. Hack your own education and see what it brings!

The Bible as Literature

Living where I do, one comes across many homeschoolers who are not Christian. A significant portion of those, while comfortable teaching ancient Greek and Roman mythologies, Native American belief systems, and perhaps even Eastern religions, struggle with Judeo-Christian beliefs.

While I am not here to debate the veracity of anyone's belief system, I will argue that students must read and understand the Bible if they are to have a full education.

How can anyone understand disputes in the Middle East without knowing Hebrew history as told in the Bible? How can anyone understand the symbolism of Western art and architecture without knowing the biblical parables and characters? A deeper knowledge of Western literature, history, medicine, and science are lost if the Bible is ignored. Current events are even more confusing if ancient history and beliefs remain unknown.

Studying the Bible (or any other religious text) is best done as a family. Parts of the Bible are contradictory, inflammatory, or even risque. Children's bibles and biblical story books gloss over this, naturally. But, if we are treating the Bible as "literature," then we must address it as is, warts and all.

An excellent study Bible, one often used in college "The Bible as Literature" courses, is The Oxford Study Bible: Revised English Bible with Apocrypha. Written in modern English, The Oxford Study Bible contains much more than biblical text and the usual explanation of abbreviations. This version includes "Reading the Bible," "Literary Forms of the Bible," "Communities in Context," "The Literature of the Biblical Communities," "The Communities' Experiences of God," "Select Index to People, Places, and Themes in the Bible," and 14 indexed maps.

The Old Testament, Apocrypha, and New Testament are annotated, adding clarity to confusing passages and historical context lost on modern readers. Each book begins with a brief explanation of the book's historical and spiritual intent. Headings at the top of each page give a one-sentence summary of the content, allowing the reader to have an overview of what's happening.

Studying the Bible in conjunction with other subjects adds a deeper understanding to both endeavors. The poetry of the Bible inspires poetry of today. The battles fought in the Old Testament fortell the battles still fought on the same ground, thousands of years later. The contradictions within the Bible feed the contradictions within the various sects of Judeo-Christian belief. The humility of the great leaders in the Bible are examples for leaders of today. The hubris of others also stands as lessons for those same leaders.

Use the Bible as a jumping off point for discussion and debate. Why are there two creation stories in Genesis? Why does the lifespan of mankind decline as we go through the ages? How does the personality of God change from the Old Testament to the New Testament? Why was the Apocrypha debated, partly included, completely excluded, and still not a consistent part of the Bible? Why were none of the four Gospels included in the New Testament written by anyone who actually knew Jesus? What similarities do you see between stories and parables in the Bible and other religious writings, and what does that tell us about what is important to humanity? How are women depicted in the Old Testament compared with the New Testament, and why the change? Why has the Bible, in one form or another, inspired people to great good and great evil for over two thousand years? (Remember, the Bible is a Christian document, and includes the Old Testament to illustrate Christianity's link to and succession of Judaism through Jesus, a Jewish carpenter, born of a Jewish mother.)

As a society, we have already lost so much in our understanding of our past through the loss of regular study of Greek, Latin, and ancient texts. If we toss aside the Bible as well, our history, literature, and art will become all the more shallow and meaningless.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Things We'd Like to See: The Magna Carta

Freedom. Citizens' rights. Constitutional government.

We in the United States of America all too often take these for granted. For generation upon generation we have lived with peaceful government transitions, the ability to challenge and test our rule of law, limited government power, and the right of the people to be heard.

Despite what many Americans might believe, this didn't begin with the the Declaration of Independence. Instead, the path to individual rights was forged centuries before with the Magna Carta in 1215.

The Magna Carta, literally the "Great Charter," granted political and civil liberties, greatly preducing the power of the English monarchy and allowing for the formation of a powerful Parliament. King John of England (1166 - 1216) was forced to sign it by Archbishop Stephen Langton and the most powerful barrons of England. This document forced the king to govern by pre-Norman laws and demonstrated that the reach of the monarchy could be limited by written edict.

The power of this document cannot be understated. Its influence can be seen in current British law, the Declaration of Rights in the Maryland Constitution of 1776, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Five and a half centuries before the Revolutionary War, the Magna Carta laid the groundwork for separation of Church and State, levying of taxes, right to trial by jury, and uniformity of weights and measures. While not a perfect document, (women's rights are virtually non-existent), it was an enormous leap forward in thinking and action.

We in the greater San Francisco Bay Area can now view this truly revolutionary document at the Legion of Honor. On loan from the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, the manuscript will be on view from May 7 through June 5. This once-in-a-lifetime event is an extraordinary opportunity to see the power of the written word.

When considering visiting this exhibit, please don't limit it to older children and youths. If you're able to go with other adults who can help with little kids (take them outside when the wiggles strike), please do. This document is intrinsic to all our lives. It's up to us, as homeschooling parents, to make it relevant to our entire family. Older students can certainly learn about and appreciate the Magna Carta's historical significance; younger students can focus on the interesting writing and colors, talk about the picture on the wax seal, or watch the people coming to visit. The Legion of Honor has many other on-going exhibits, as well. If you keep in mind these Tips for Successful Museum Visits, everyone should gain something positive from their visit.

For more field trip ideas,

check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

Admission is reasonably priced at $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for youths 13-17 and students with valid ID, and free for children 12 and under.

For more information on the Magna Carta, check out the following links:
Magna Carta to make rare appearance, San Jose Mercury News, 4/06/11
Legion of Honor, Magna Carta
Translated text of the Magna Carta
Magna Carta 1215
Wikipedia: Magna Carta
Books about the Magna Carta

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Tips for College Interviews

Regardless of schooling background, students applying to college must prepare for the interview process. Although not all colleges require these, many do. And homeschoolers, especially, need to be ready to explain, expound upon, and create enthusiasm for their non-traditional education.

A good place to start is with Susan Goodkin's article, "College Interview Tips." Ms. Goodkin, Executive Director of the California Learning Strategies Center, is a Rhodes Scholar, Harvard graduate, and Education Consultant for grades K-12. The California Learning Strategies Center's mission is to help "parents get their advanced and gifted children the education they deserve, inside and outside of the classroom."

Filled with good tips, the article assume the college-bound student is from a traditional school, but homeschoolers can easily adapt the information to suit their needs.

Ms. Goodkin also offers "How to Ace College Interivews," which is a 30-minute program that can be listened to multiple times. The cost for this download is $25, which is but a drop-in-the-bucket when college application fees and costs are figured into the sum.

For further information, check the California Learning Strategies Center website. To contact Susan Goodkin directly, call 805-642-6686 (9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. PST) or email Susan.Goodkin@LearningStrategiesCenter.com.

Knowing how to prepare for interviews is a life-skill that must be learned by college. Susan Goodkin's advice can help.

Places We'd Like to Visit: The Museum of American Finance

Money fascinates my eldest son. The variety of currencies. Their monetary relationship to each other. The power money wields. How money creates more money. So, when we read about the Museum of American Finance in the Wall Street Journal (Making Money a Must-See, April 16-17, 2011), we were itching to pack our bags and head to New York.

The Museum of American Finance (MOAF) is "the nation's only independent public museum dedicated to celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and the democratic free market tradition which has made New York City the financial capital of the world." Nowadays, many people may believe the free market system is broken, but regardless, understanding the foundation and history of our nation's financial markets can only lead to a better informed consumer and citizen.

MOAF boasts an interactive monetary exhibit, a gold Monoploy set, a historical display of piggy banks, interviews with 16 modern-day entrepreneurs, the Alexander Hamilton Room dedicated to our first Secretary of the Treasury, information on the current credit crisis, and information on past financial scandals.

The museum also offers classes at the Center for Financial Education. Classes range from "Real Fake" with Inspector Collector, aimed at grades K-6, to The Secret Life of Money: Currency Exploration for Adults, designed for college students and adults.

Hours, admission rates, and directions are available at http://www.moaf.org/contact/index.

For more field trip ideas,

check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

Unfortunately, at a time when our need for financial education is stronger than ever, the MOAF, which offers just the information we need, isn't doing well. Perhaps, people are intimidated by the name "American Finance." Or, maybe, people believe money is boring. Or, perhaps, folks believe they know all they need to about how money works. Regardless of the reason, one of the more important aspects of our modern lives is completely neglected in traditional teaching, so people must make the effort to seek out the information to teaching both themselves and their children. Only with knowledge will we avoid the mistakes of the past.

So, whether you're an argentum-phile (money lover) or argentum-phobe (money fearer), MOAF sounds like wonderful place to learn more about and experience the fascinating world of finance.

With a little luck, and money, maybe we'll see you there!

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

MIT's Homeschool Admissions Policy

Are you still fielding questions about homeschooling and college? Maybe your fears keep creeping up late at night, catching you off-guard.

Rest easy. Homeschooling will not prevent your child from attending top-notch schools. Just as with any other applicant, your child must prepare in advance for university, but many universities welcome qualified homeschoolers with open arms.

One fine example is MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). They have a specific page with helpful hints for homeschooled applicants.

Feel free to print this to show to well-meaning family and friends concerned about the your homeschooled student's collegiate options. Or, keep it on your nightstand to review for the next time you wake up in a panic.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Homeschooling Gift Idea: Magazine Subscriptions

Homeschoolers value ready access to information. Reading is vital to the homeschool experience, opening up worlds and probing depths that otherwise would remain unknown.

Magazines provide perfect portals into current events, new ideas, breakthroughs, and our ever-expanding universe. The beauty of magazines lies in their timeliness and their diversity.

Consequently, magazine subscriptions make a perfect gift for the homeschooling families in your life. Whether the children are very young or are heading off to university, you can find a magazine that fits their reading level, interests, and style. And although the subscription may only last one year, the thoughts and paths it opens up will last a lifetime.

While too many magazines exist to list, here are some titles and categories to get you started. Age-ranges are suggestions only, as many higher-level magazines will have parts that capture the attention of younger readers, and all magazines benefit from being shared by a family. Remember: check with the parents for hints on what they are looking for and what might appeal to their children.

Magazine Ideas
National Geographic: For kids, teens, and families.

Cricket Magazines: Fiction, history, archeology, and more. Babies through teens.

Highlights: Magazines and clubs (countries, U.S. states, math, puzzles, and more). Elementary through middle school.

MAKE magazine: Amazing do-it-yourself projects of varying ability. Upper elementary (with adult help) through adult.

Astronomy magazines: Discussions of everything beyond Earth. Upper elementary (especially the monthly star charts in Astronomy) through adult.

Interweave Press: Fiber arts, beading, art, weaving, knitting, and more. Upper elementary through adult.

Architecture magazines: Architecture, design, landscape design, business design, and more. Teen through adult.

Fiction magazines: New writing, in all genres. Teens through adult.

Boys' Life: Official publication of the Boy Scouts of America. Elementary through teen.

Girls' magazines: Advice, crafts, fiction, contests, sports, and more. Elementary-aged through preteen girls.

Another option is to find a bookseller or newsstand with an extensive selection of publications, and spend sometime looking through various subjects and titles.

If you want to give a present to open along with your gift subscription, wrap a current issue or two of the magazine, along with a note telling them about their new subscription. Since most publishing companies take four to six weeks to mail the first issue, this will give the recipient something to read now and look forward to later.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Homeschoolers and College

A common concern of new or potential homeschoolers is “Will my child get into a good college if we homeschool?” The answer is a resounding, “Maybe!"

With any college applicant, so much depends on transcripts, test scores, application essays, and so on. Whether homeschooled or traditionally schooled, a student with low test scores, weak transcripts, and no evidence of motivation will not be accepted into top schools.

First, we need to make some clarifications. First, not all homeschoolers have college as their goal. Second, going to a top college is not a guarantee of future success. Third, not all colleges are prepared for homeschoolers, although this is becoming the exception, rather than the rule.

Assuming you want your child to attend a good university, and your child has the ability to succeed in such an environment, and your child's personal vision includes higher education, then your child should strive for that goal.

Many universities are now seeking out homeschoolers. They have learned that homeschoolers come prepared with "intellectual curiosity, independent study habits, and critical thinking skills" (Regina Morin, admissions director at Columbia College). And studies have shown that homeschoolers either meet or exceed traditionally schooled students on college entrance exams.

Stanford University even devotes a page to “Home-Schooled Applicant Guidelines.” It states, “The central issue for us is the manner in which you have gone about the learning process, not how many courses you have completed.” Of course, Stanford still requires testing for homeschooled students, just as it does for any applicant. But Stanford, as do many other institutions, understands the fluidity of the homeschool education. Homeschoolers are seen as an asset, and courted as such.

Many colleges want applicants to demonstrate social involvement. Traditionally schooled students often meet this requirement through school clubs, sports, band, and the like. Homeschoolers do not always have access to these activities; however, because of the freedom homeschooling allows, many participate in community-based activities, charities, local politics, entrepreneurial ventures, and others. Needless to say, these not only demonstrate “social involvement,” but show maturity, dedication, and creativity.

Of course, the decision to attend college must be made a number of years in advance, just as in regular school. An academic path cannot be started a year before college. By the time a student is 14 years old, the decision to pursue college should be discussed and decided. If higher education is the goal, look at the admissions policies of a few colleges that fit the student’s interests. This is a wonderful learning opportunity! First, check out the schools’ online policies for guidance. Next, try to talk to admissions officers for further guidance. If possible, visit the campuses of your chosen schools. Also, reach out to other homeschooling families who have “been there, done that.” Check out books on the subject. The information is out there.

For a list of colleges that admit homeschoolers, check out the Learning In Freedom website. For additional articles on homeschoolers and college, go to A to Z Home's Cool college page eHow's "How to Get Into College from Homeschool," and GHF's articles page on Teens and College.

College is no longer new ground for homeschoolers. The ground has been broken, the path laid, and now higher education is ready for the hordes of homeschoolers eager to continue their life-long love of learning.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson