1. Who was Charlotte Mason and why use her methods?
Charlotte was a British educator of the late 19th and early 20th century. She created a college to train teachers/governesses. Miss Mason created the Parents National Education Union- an organization and newsletter to support parents throughout the British Empire who were home schooling. She was an innovator in education and understood the vital need for a solid foundation of “the atmosphere of environment, discipline of habit, and great ideas.” Miss Mason developed methods of education that developed the character of children and engaged them in owning the academic and culturally enriched knowledge they were gaining.
2. Is Leadership Education (aka= Thomas Jefferson Education or TJEd), synonymous with the Restored Gospel Leadership Model (RGLM)?
Yes, they can be ideally the same thing, since both have two things in common to their central idea; central canon and education via leadership, instead of a conveyor belt. First, both these approaches are grounded in one’s central canon. Second, the main process that Leadership Education uses, in both cases, to produce leaders, is through leadership, or education guided by example.
3. Can people of various faiths be part of Moor House Academy (MHA)?
We welcome people of all faiths who care to join us. Please understand that all our material will come from the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ perspective, for which we feel no need to apologize. Families of other faiths use the principles presented, within the context of their central classic. In other words, they would use their central classic, and guide the education of their children by leadership, or example.
4. Is the RGLEd model new?
This model of education is not new. This model is as older than Adam, because it is eternal in nature. There are many examples of leadership education, being used by parents in the scriptures; Heavenly Father, Adam, Noah, Lehi, Jacob ( son of Lehi), and King Benjamin, to name a few. The pattern of leadership education is set out in Deuteronomy 5 and 6. It could be referred to as the lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way, educational paradigm.
5. What is a Restored Gospel Leadership Education?
Latter-day Saint Leadership education has a four basic components:
* Mentors– Christ is our Master Mentor. He employs others to assist Him in mentoring.
* The Central Canon is revelation; both general and individual.
* Classics that support that central canon– We study God’s first classic– the earth and the
universe. We study great men and women of the past and their impact on mankind.
* Opportunities for application and to gain experience– Through gospel living, worship, family work, serving each other, serving together, wholesome family recreation, and stewardship, we have opportunity to apply what we know to be virtuous and true.
6. What is the sequence of Restored Gospel Leadership Education?
* Innocence (foundations): roughly from birth to eight years old. Children in this phase of development are Aspiring Scholars. The “main focus” here, is not academic. Here children develop spiritual identity, relationships, core values, life habits, habitudes, and bonds of trust and love.
* Agency, Accountability, and Discovery: roughly eight to twelve years old. Those in this phase of development are still Aspiring Scholars. This is a time to explore, discover, and delight in learning. Also, as those that have progressed through this phase move towards more discernment, responsibility, and stewardship, they go through a transition where they begin to take greater personal responsibility for their own education. We call these Junior Scholars. As they reach the older years they begin transitioning into a practice scholar and then into a project scholar.
* Discernment, Responsibility, Discipleship, and Stewardship: roughly twelve to nineteen years old. The youth in this phase of development are young scholars, both spiritually and intellectually. Discernment is developed spiritually and strengthened through increased study and discussion, first in God’s word, then through generous studies, as well as, through life experience. Responsibility is developed through the exercise of increased capacities, service, and mentoring. Discipleship is developed through Gospel Study, service, and exposure to greatness, and aligning self with core beliefs. Stewardship develops through increased discernment, discipleship, and responsibilities to God, family, and community. Stewardship also comes with a sense of personal mission, and the preparation spoken of in Doctrine and Covenants 88:77 -80. As one moves closer to full time mission and marriage the intensity increases and they move into the transition that we call this the depth phase of mission preparation. This depth phase continues after full time mission and marriage.
This phase is a gradual process, an unfolding, and developing. This starts with practice attempts at trying to do scholar works, and can expand into apprenticeship, a series of projects, or peer classes. Moving forward to a point where the scholar goes through a period of intense self directed study. This leads into a phase that the young scholar is ready to work one on one with a mentor and start filling in their educational holes, preparing them for the depth that comes with college level work.
* Consecration: Missions and Marriage– nineteen years old and beyond; as young men and many young women serve full time missions for the Lord, marry, continue their education, and live a spirit directed life.
* Destiny: This is the time that the individual meets and fulfills that God designed mission, for which the individual has been endowed with unique gifts, abilities, and spirit directed preparation; making that unique contribution to our times, for which they were held in reserve to this day. Destiny can happen at anytime, hence the need for spirit guided planning and preparation.
Though RGLEd has a sequence, one adds and integrates each phase into their life.
7. How is Latter-day Saint Leadership Education accomplished?
This is accomplished through gospel-centered homelife, precept, example, through study and also by faith, and by learning to walk by the Spirit.
8. What are the curriculum groupings of Moor House Academy’s program?
This is where secular learning is plugged into the gospel context.
Pre-scholar Programs:
* Aspiring Scholar (Family Centered Learning) – roughly all children under twelve.
Click here to visit the Aspiring Scholar Programs: A Closer Look page.
* Junior Scholar (Family Centered Learning transitioning into Independent Learning)- Additional transitional material for children, as they are ready, and as the spirit directs.
Click here to visit the Junior Scholar Programs: A Closer Look page.
Scholar Programs:
* Young Scholar – Focused, parent-mentor guided, peer learning, and independent learning, for youth roughly, twelve and up, as they are ready. (Based upon their actions of the learner, not just their words).
Click here to visit the Young Scholar Programs: A Closer Look page.
* Adult- for adults; especially parents.
Click here to visit the Adult Scholar Programs: A Closer Look page.
9. What constitutes a Scholar?
The Noah Webster 1828 dictionary definition: One who learns of a teacher; a pupil; any member of a college, academy or school; applicable to the learner of any art, science or branch of literature.
10. What is a classic?
The definition of a classic we are using is the one found in Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary :
1. An author of first rank; a writer whose style is pure, correct, and refined; primarily a Greek or Roman author of this character, the word is applied to authors of like character in any nation.
2. A book written by an author of first class.
A work of this rank would be worth experiencing more than once. There are classics in all fields, such as literature, art, music, sciences, architecture, etc.. These classics are not just books. They would include music compositions, paintings, architectural styles, and other tangible creations. They represent men and women’s greatest God-inspired works. We should be better persons for experiencing these great works.
11. What is the Four-Year Educational Cycle?
It is one of two track options that Aspiring and Junior Scholars can use to gain a very generous foundation, in short, it is a pre-scholar program. The Four year, Four Cycles of History provide a systematic integration of spiritual and secular learning activities covering the following:
* Cycle I– Old Testament, Book of Moses, and Book of Abraham/ Ancient Times:
Pre-Mortal Existence to 1 AD/ Introduction to Beginning Hebrew.
* Cycle II– New Testament/ Birth of Christianity, the Apostasy, and Medieval Times: 1 AD to 1500 AD/ Introduction to Beginning Greek and Greek Roots.
* Cycle III– Book of Mormon/ Age of Exploration , Migrations, the Foundations of Liberty, and the Restoration: 1500 to 1820/ Introduction to Latin Roots.
* Cycle IV– Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith History/ The Fullness of Times: 1820 to the present/ Melting Pot Approach to Foreign Language.
12. What is the vision of Moor House Academy’s Latter-day Saint Leadership Education (LDS LEd)?
Our vision is to build statesmen and change the world, one individual and family at a time.
We seek to accomplish this through:
* Mentoring individuals and parents in preparing themselves and their youth, in seeking a well-rounded education, of heart, mind and hands; so that they will be better prepared to serve God, to lead, and to make a valuable contribution to this world.
* Anchoring the educational approach to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
* Mooring the educational approach to the classics.