In 1762 George Wythe, Virginia's "foremost classical scholar" and signer of the Declaration of Independence, took it upon himself to educate a young Thomas Jefferson. For five years they studied the classics--works of literature, political philosophy, and law--before Jefferson was admitted to the bar.
Wythe would also mentor great American statesmen such as James Monroe, John Marshall, and Henry Clay before his brilliant life ended prematurely as an indirect result of his opposition to slavery.
Jefferson described Wythe as "... my ancient master, my earliest and best friend, and to him I am indebted for first impressions which have [been] the most salutary on the course of my life."
Two-hundred-and-fifty years later, a small university in Utah bears Wythe's name with the mission to churn out statesmen for the 21st century. Students study the classics as Jefferson did, and can earn degrees in fields such as political economy and philosophy.
In Thousand Oaks on Monday night, Dr. Shanon Brooks, the former president of George Wythe University, will address the failures of mainstream education and the role parents play in the tutelage of their children. He said:
The founders, students of Plato, Confucius, the Roman and Greek civilizations, the Christian Bible and many other great ideas, studying and learning great lessons from the past, developed and promoted the ideals that became the foundation of American culture and proper governance, allowing us to become the greatest nation in the world.
Dr. Brooks is currently the president of Face to Face with Greatness Seminars, which advocates a "Thomas Jefferson Education"--learning how to think as opposed to learning what to think.Today, these very ideals are being systematically attacked, worn down and lost.
Eric Ingemunson's commentary has been featured on Hannity, CNN, NBC, Inside Edition, and KFI's The John and Ken Show.
Eric was born and raised in Ventura County and currently resides in Moorpark. He earned a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University. As a conservative, Eric supports smaller government, less taxation, more individual freedom, the rule of law, and a strict adherence to the Constitution.
Ventura County has its own, and nationally recognized, college that studies the "great books". Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula. I know a number of students and tutors there. Below is from a recent article.
"Thomas Aquinas, however, is less expensive to operate than most colleges because it offers no majors or electives. Instead, every student follows the same curriculum, studying every subject by reading the classics. In addition, “tutors” — which is what the college calls its professors — teach more classes than at other schools and aren’t expected to do research."
14Tmaj Major thanks for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.