Self Education Encouragement

BEN FRANKLIN

Photo By: Designkryt

I read, The Autobiography and Other Writings of Benjamin Franklin as part of my Summer relaxation by the pool.  It is a small hobby of mine to learn what people thought and what influenced them to think a certain way; Ben is a big character to tackle. Despite the plethora of information about this multi-talented man I wanted to focus on his views of education.

This year is a big year for my daughter and me. Fifth grade will commence with school held right here under my own roof. We've taken the leap, started something fresh and we feel the gamut of emotions typical of a new adventure. I thought reading about Ben's successful accomplishments may just give a morale booster as we prepare for the unknown.

First, let me list some of those accomplishments. Keep in mind he only had two years of formal schooling and the rest of his education was self taught.

• Printer and Tradesman (He was so successful he retired comfortably at the age of 42)
• Alderman; councilman, Burgess, justice of the peace (elected member of Municipal Council) 
• Founded public institutions: fire company, militia, college and hospital
• Inventor, Scientist: Electricity is his best known interest but he also dabbled in; Medicine-yellow fever, cancer. Weather -astronomy, The Gulf Stream,  formation of raindrops, hot-air balloons. Studied- sleep, magnetism, surface tension, demography, heat absorption. Invented- tool for retrieving books from high shelves, a 'copy' machine for handwritten devices. Writer of various topics- Agriculture, chess,military strategy, literary style, silkworms, ice boats etc... He wrote pieces for his brothers newspaper under the name, Mrs. Silence Dogood' at the age of 16. He also wrote Poor Richard's Almanac.
• Post Master General
• Public Library Founder
• Received by five Kings
• Awarded Honorary degrees by six Universities
• Philosopher
• Founding Father
• Ambassador to France

This information tells me quite a bit. It tells me with the proper motivators and self discipline education will happen naturally. 

A letter written to Ben Franklin from a close friend (Benjamin Vaughan) encouraging him to write his autobiography explains the gusto behind Ben's large success. Vaughan calls this, "man's private power..and goes on to say, "But your biography will not merely teach self education, but the education of a wise man.." ( pg. 80) essentially he is advocating personal responsibility.

Although Franklin never comes out and says it in plain terms, thinking for oneself is a virtue. (Critical thinking in today's terms)

Vaughan compliments this thought with his supportive statement, "School and other education constantly proceed upon false principles, and shows a clumsy apparatus pointed at a false mark; but your (Franklin's) apparatus is simple...."

The simplicity of the thought that learning should be enjoyable and unhampered with agendas is refreshing. Finding out for oneself, taking responsibility, asking questions, observing other's with foresight are all virtues to aid in our upcoming adventure in homeschooling.

Franklin's list of accomplishments is a bar to be admired I can only wonder at what we will accomplish?