Who are we?
The Institute for R.E.A.L.I.T.Y., or Reform of Education And Living Instruction for The Young, has grown out of the collective experience of many great minds, as their thoughts and philosophies have found their ways to me. Having myself been educated by a variety of means, public, parochial, private protestant and home schools over my childhood, and adding to that my experience at a public university which culminated in a degree in Education, I bring to the table a wide base of experience as the "educated". By virtue of my degree I am now considered an "educator" by society. Ironically, my experience as an educator has grown in opposition to what my professors had hoped. I am an educator by birth. I am the third generation in my family to teach, beginning with my Grandmother, who taught in a one room school. I am an educator by gift, the gift of my three wonderful children. I am an educator by choice; I choose to learn and share with those around me in an effort to impact my small corner of the world. Now I would like to share with you.
As I have considered through the years what it means to be "educated" it occurs to me that in most situations being educated does not mean holding a degree, or someone else's approval or permission for the use of acquired knowledge. Education, it seems to me, is the on going process of adding experience and information to a life in such a way that the person growing within the body is stimulated to his potential. This does not devalue or exclude institutional learning, but it certainly does not end there either. Education begins at birth, not at three in a pre-school or at five in a kindergarten or at eighteen in a university. Education continues to the grave, and likely far beyond. It is a personal responsibility and a means to reach higher than those who have come before. Education is a responsibility, a privilege and an exciting journey. Or at least it could be.
There are obvious problems with the current educational system. No one argues that. Everyone, however, does seem to have an opinion or an agenda as to how those problems should be fixed. I say that they can't be. At least not by the means currently being employed. More money, more teachers, more buildings, fewer students, a better racial mix, the arts, the "basics", new books, updated curriculum, computers in classrooms, technology programs, trade programs, counselors, national testing, school vouchers, none of these things is the answer. The answer lies deeper, yet it is much simpler than the bureaucrats and departments of "education could ever dream. The answer lies with you, with each parent, teacher, grandparent, friend, relative and growing child himself. The answer lies in the fact that we are individually responsible for our educations and the educations of those we help to raise. People have learned and have taught their own from the beginning of time. Without government help. There are many options available in childhood education, from one extreme to the other. No matter what your choice, it is your responsibility to see that education is a process that continues for a life time.
The Institute for R.E.A.L.I.T.Y. seeks to encourage solutions in education. The purpose of this institute is not to lobby in Washington, but to lobby in homes. To help parents to themselves become educated so that they can, in turn, train and teach their children. We desire success, intellectual adventure, and joy in the journey for each of you and for your families as you lead them in in life and learning.