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We just found out that the new changes to TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site..org do not display correctly on older versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, i.e. the one you are using right now. We are actively working to fix this problem, and we're sorry for any problems you encounter. Until we get things fixed, you may wish to update your copy of Internet Explorer to version 7 or download the free Firefox browser, since these browsers are known to work. Otherwise, keep trying back. We hope to have everything working correctly in a few days.
Sincerely,
Russell Keppner
TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver DeMille. We also have an Introduction to Thomas Jefferson Education available elsewhere on this site..org Administrator
Re: Little House on the Prairie books
I finished Little Town on the Prairie yesterday. I LOVE that book! My favorite part - because it is totally gratuitous in nature - is the Fourth of July Celebration when Laura has her epiphany about God being our king and we choose to obey him by being good - and that is how we can continue to be free. I just love that this was included in the book.
I think it must have been a life-changing event for Laura and something that she had long considered important in order for her to include it in her story. I think of how many epiphanies I have - If I were to write a story of my life most of them would get left out and only the most memorable would remain.
I think this realization that she had during the celebration must have struck Laura to the core or it probably wouldn't have been included in such a way.
Re: Little House on the Prairie books
I also found this a wonderful part of the book, as well as the fact that her and Carrie had memorized the Declaration. Wow! How many of our school kids can say that? Not many!
Debbi
Re: Little House on the Prairie books
I just read The Long Winter this winter and it reminded me how much we take for granted. I am so grateful we don't have to wait for a train to arrive with supplies to live. Mary and Laura seem so willing to help in the family chores, even when they get more difficult. I am going to have to read this with my kids to hopefully inspire them.
Re: Little House on the Prairie books
Right now, I am reading Little House in the Big Woods to my 3 yr old son. I thought I was really just reading to myself out loud in his presence, but every now and then he climbs up and sits to listen or comments on what I am reading. So he really is paying some attention to what is going on. I loved these books as a child and read and reread them. But as a mother, I am amazed at the politeness and disipline in their family. Ma is almost always so in control, and I really admire that. There are times when I wonder if I will ever be that proactive. I guess I'll just "keep on keepin' on" as my grandpa would say.=)
Re: Little House on the Prairie books
My daughter pulled out "On the Banks of Plum Creek" and I decided that it was time for a re-read of these books. Glad to see others are reading them too. They are among my most favorite!
I just started (and finished) "The Long Winter" last night. It is the third one I've read in the past week. What constantly amazes me as I read about the Ingalls family is how polite they all are, how they are so thankful for the bounty they have, which, compared with "Farmer Boy", is little indeed!
I was inspired to keep my house clean; ie, completing the dishes when the meal is over not just shoving them aside to finish later. None of my own children can wash them yet and once they've finished their half of the job I tend to take them upstairs to read to them. So I loved how Ma would encourage them to work and FINISH and then play!
I loved reading Farmer Boy and watching how Almanzo's father raises his son in the true TJED fashion. He didn't send him off to school to soon, he learned to work early, and he was learning about his own mission in life (love of horses!).
The last thing, I mentioned above how polite they are. I decided that, while I don't agree with some of the old fashioned manners such as children are seen but not heard, there is still some improvement that could be made in our family in the areas of respect and tone of voice. I need to set the example, of course. But I decided that if children have been learning to be polite for generations mine can improve a bit more, too!
Re: Little House on the Prairie books
Reading Little House with my kids has been great fun. I keep reminding them that this is how it was for the pioneers, that this is the story of a real little girl. We talked about the malaria they dealt with in Nauvoo after reading about it in Little House. Then all the kids tried to think of when they felt sick and how bad it was. We talked about how we've never been sick all at once and there's always been a parent who could help out. How hard it was for their family to be so sick they couldn't go for help and the blessing (small miracle) of the doctor passing through and the dog bringing him to the house when they were so sick.
We've also made our own butter after reading about it. They thought it was amazing that the whipping cream changed from whipped cream to butter and from white to yellow. They've never been so excited to put butter on toast.
I think my favorite discussion was about when Mary convinced Laura to obey their Pa and not untie Jack when they were so scared becuase of the Indians. Because they rememebered to do what their Pa said, they were okay. We discussed that we don't always understand why we are asked to do certain things but that it is important to obey our earthly as well as heavenly parents.
Just a few thoughts, Corrie
Re: Little House on the Prairie books
We've been reading these books too. Even 13 yods 'tolerates' them still - we wore out Farmer Boy with him.
When we read about Mary convincing Laura not to untie Jack, we talked about the importance of obeying even when we don't fully understand why. It was great to have another incident to talk about obeying when Laura flirted with the swollen creek (On the Banks of Plum Creek) and barely survived to write the stories! Another timely point to make with that one is that we tell mom where we are going!
We also had a great time discussing and researching leaches! Of course that was instigated by the 6 yo son! Yeech.
JoDean