The Superlative form of Education

image from Wendtpartners.com

One of my classes this semester had us study the following talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. 

“Good, Better, Best”.  I’ve heard this address several times since its debut in 2007 and have used the principles found in it as a guide many times in determining time management and spiritual matters. Now I’m seeing its application regarding education.

For instance, when my younger children were attending a public charter school, there was an abundant amount of good things taking place in their education. They were learning to take care of themselves and being responsible for things such as packing their own lunch and cleaning up after themselves.  I saw that academics were coming alive for them and they were getting regular time with new concept introductions as well as regular practice for mastery of the 3 R’s.  They were motivated to study simply by peer association (everybody’s doing it) and test scores.  What they were getting was good.  There is no question of that. 

Being home has the added benefit of spending time with family and strengthening those connections.  There is free time for them to simply be kids, exploring, creating, overseeing their own time investments, relaxed and free.  They are also able to incorporate gospel study as well as learn in an environment that the spirit is welcome and encouraged.  Many times, the lessons are real life and happen organically – not fabricated for the classroom. The 3 R’s are taking place though at a less stringent pace.  They have a say in what they study, and their syllabus is based on their interests, goals, and desires. I feel home education or individualized education is a better option or maybe even the best option while here in mortality.

Even in homeschool there are good, better, and best.  Many curricula are set up as a public school at home with a set number of lessons, scripts for both the mentor and student, or chapters to read with exercises at the end and tests assessing their mastery.  Again, that is a good way of learning (but you might as well send them to public school because attempting to compete with that system will always fail by the limited workforce, training, and resources.)  A better method is studying from living books and real-life experiences.  World schooling (traveling), and lots of real opportunities. Basically, it is utilizing the classics and mentors.  The amount of difference between the conveyor belt and a leadership or classical education is astounding.  And yet, there is still a best option that incorporates the gospel of Jesus Christ and invites the spirit to be a part of the study process.  Learning from the Lord through revelation, taking the spirit to be your guide by choosing what to search as prompted and seeking to do the Lords will (compared to job training for the lowest common denominators).

  

image from sbcs.richmond.edu

I’ve heard the good, better, and best compared to the three degrees of glory.  The Telestial education would be compared to the public-school system (job training) or similar methods of study.  It is still a kingdom of glory… there is still learning that takes place.  In the Mary/Martha story – it would be the “cumbered about much serving, careful and troubled about many things” but there is a better part. 

The Terrestrial Education might be compared to leadership education.  Studying the classics and mentors, a governess or private tutor that creates a course of study and develops talents based on what the student needs to learn to fulfill their unique mission. 

The Celestial Education is learning what the Lord wants us to learn, with the spirit to impress upon our minds and hearts, in order to fulfill our unique mission and bring about His purposes.  It incorporates study and faith with the scriptures as our core classic or textbook.  It possesses all the good elements of the telestial education, all the better elements of terrestrial education, and adds the best elements of the spiritual connection with God.  It is the best education available. 

image from childrenministry.com

And so, the choice is ours.  Whichever education option we choose will require an investment. Which education are we willing to pay the price to earn? Which one has the best returns? Which one will bring us the greatest happiness and lasting significance on the child and society at large?  And what is our obligation to our children, the betterment of society, and to our Heavenly Father?