Something New

May 19, 2013

Last evening Jean and I went to a meeting on helping our children and grandchildren learn. A panel of fairly willing and very human parents shared their experiences related to an assignment they had been given six weeks ago. Each family was asked to use a program the LDS church began last year for teaching Sunday school and other youth classes. These families were asked to use the same program in their family home evenings. Family home evenings have been around for many years but with more and more activities associated with church, homework, sports, school, dance, drama, it seems like our grandchildren are finding themselves having to make priority decisions on a daily basis. Since all of these are beneficial things the question becomes one of selecting among, “. . . good, better, or best.”

I have been wandering around the education scene virtually all of my life and have come to the certain conclusion that:

1.       We learn in many divergent ways

2.       We learn at vastly different speeds

3.       We do not all learn the same things at the same chronological age

4.       We have areas of study and expertise in which we excel, and those in which we falter

The program the families on the panel used called “Come unto Christ” provides opportunities for each person in a particular learning environment to excel in their area of interest. One example from the panel was a beautiful couple with three boys ranging in age from three to ten, diagnosed with autism. As difficult as it may seem, they dutifully hold their home evenings. After one such home evening, the oldest, came to his mother and, in his labored voice said, “Heavenly Father, and Jesus love me.” More profound words have never been spoken. Another spoke of being the most obnoxious child when he was a teen; yet, he received great blessings from “attending”, if only in body as a teenager. Some panel members spoke of the difficulty of getting wide ranging ages together, while others noted that even the very youngest would participate when music and thoughts were shared with their needs in mind.

While visiting with Teresa and our granddaughter Emma I shared my idea of a perfect way of learning. I shared that we would throw out rote regurtation in which students memorize answers to questions at the first level cognition level; only to spit them back at a bubble sheet, never learning meaning, or consequences. I asked Emma if she would like to start third grade by selecting and reading twenty books on a variety of topics including areas like sports, engineering, science, history, religion; then craft her curriculum based on those topics and whatever level she felt appropriate. She declined the opportunity.

So, Emma, what if we were to use the concept embodied in the Come unto Christ system which would include your participation. You would sit with your mom and dad, prayerfully consider what you want to learn, and where you are in your chronological and academic levels; then, set out to conquer the goals, concepts, and learning levels that you and your parents help you set. Imagine!  No more falling behind because you didn’t understand a building block foundational concept; no more waiting for others to finish a concept which you already knew, or learned quickly. No more sitting through hours of painful repetitive, mind numbing exercises based on their ability to keep you busy and out of the way while others caught up. I think that would be such a great opportunity for outstanding learning.

My mind kept racing back to the times I had experienced awkward and embarrassing moments in my educational pursuits that could have been eliminated and replaced with scenes in which I was given much more opportunity to excel because I had input, God had input, my parents had input, and I was able to learn and flourish without self contempt, and grave personal doubts.

Thanks for your constant input. I truly enjoy hearing from you and learning of your ideas, interests and love.

God bless you as you strive to work through the exciting wonders of life.

Duane Jacobs, Father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother, and fond friend