A 7 year old boy sits at his desk at school. He’s bored and is having trouble focusing on the lesson.
During a break, he sees his teacher talking to the school inspector. They’re whispering and he can barely hear them. Then he hears his name come out of the teacher’s mouth. Followed by “addled” (meaning can’t think clearly).
This crushes his spirit. His teacher, who is supposed to help him, is now saying he’s hopeless and will never learn.
He runs home crying. Not sure what to do, he tells his mom the story. His mom is angry and decides to take him out of the school. The mom is a former school teacher.
She starts with giving the boy lessons and making them interactive. Gives him a book on chemistry experiments. Creates a space in the basement where he can test out the experiments for himself.
He’s able to practice what he’s curious about. Not what he’s been told he has to learn. He starts spending extra time reading, learning and experimenting.
He’s happier than he’s ever been and is falling in love with learning.
This boy’s name is Thomas Edison.
He went on to become one of the greatest inventors of all time, holding over 1000 patents and inventing the light bulb, phonograph, electrical grids and many more famous inventions.
This isn’t a story to say that homeschooling kids is the answer. It worked for Thomas Edison, but doesn’t mean it will work for all kids.
Each kid is on their own timeline. A 7 year old child being told they’re hopeless in school is devastating to a parent. But Edison’s mom didn’t let that stop her.
Here’s what he said about her:
> “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me and I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”
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