Homeschooled Teddy Roosevelt Never Sat in a Classroom Until Harvard

President Teddy Roosevelt is one of many distinguished Americans who was homeschooled. As we look back on his childhood, we can marvel at how the extra time and freedom that comes with homeschooling created his unique character and intellect. For example, he had the latitude and space to:

• Spend ample time  reading
• Explore and pursue his passion for natural science
• Travel abroad extensively

Reading

Young Teddy had tutors and copious amounts of time to read. His parents “offered him a wide choice of reading material and did not force him to study any particular books.”  In fact, he was such a fervent reader, “never without a book to settle down with or pick up in a spare minute.” Kids laughed at the way he read standing up balanced on one leg and the other foot raised like a stork.

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Pursuit of His Passions

All the free time Teddy gained from homeschooling also allowed him to explore and pursue his passion of the natural world. A visit to a to a taxidermist’s shop, where he learned how to skin, stuff and mount animals, was an important event in his life. He hunted, collected, and labeled so many specimens that he was given the attic for his own Museum of Natural History at his family’s home in New York.

 

Travel Without Constraints of a School Schedule

Though sheltered in many ways, Teddy and his siblings saw more of the world than most American children. Twice his family journeyed on yearlong trips abroad. This included a year-long excursion to Europe and also living on a houseboat in Egypt. In Egypt, he was able to observe and catalog many exotic new birds.

When Teddy entered Harvard, he had never been in a class with others before. Teddy participated in a variety of activities and was elected vice-president of the Natural History Society.

Teddy Roosevelt went on to become the 26th President of the United States and was called the “Father of Conservation” for his tremendous work protecting the environment.

A reflection of his education mirrors what so many homeschool families value today: 1) Personalized and customized academics; 2) Experiential and hands-on learning; 3) Travel; 4) Pursuit of passions; 5) Love of books; 6) Time with family.

You may also like:

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WikiLeaks Julian Assange is a Former Homeschooler

Julian Asssange, founder of Wikileaks, is a former homeschooler. Whether you consider him a crusader for the truth or someone who has endangered others by putting masses of sensitive information out to the public domain, he is among the ranks of many noteworthy homeschoolers.

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Whether you consider him a crusader for the truth or someone who has endangered others by putting masses of sensitive information out to the public domain, he is among the ranks of many noteworthy homeschoolers.

 

Most recently, the controversial activist and computer hacker released documents damaging to the Hilary Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee. He warns more will be released before the November election.

Born in Australia, he led a nomadic childhood. His parents ran a touring theater and homeschooled him. We don’t know much more about his homeschooling or unusual upbringing. One thing is for sure: he is a bold and brilliant individual to undermine some of the most powerful governments and politicians.

 

You may also be interested in this post about former homeschooler, Condoleeza Rice:

Condoleeza Rice Writes About Homeschool Memories

To learn about some of the benefits to your family in homeschooling:

Homeschooling: The Road Less Traveled

Read why Business Insider says homeschooling is the smartest way to teach kids in the 21st century:

Business Insider Says Homeschooling is the Smartest Way to Teach Kids in the 21st Century

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Condoleezza Rice Writes About Her Homeschool Memories

We are reading an autobiography that the extraordinary Condoleezza Rice, former United States Secretary of State, wrote for kids. Here is an excerpt in which she talks about her homeschool experience:

“Mother was very systematic about my school day. We’d get up and see Daddy off to work and then start ‘school’. She ordered the first-and second-grade texts in math, science and reading and took me through them in a very rigorous fashion. I’d take tests every week to chart our progress. This flexible schedule also allowed time to practice piano, and as a result, I advanced significantly during this period.”

“This flexible schedule also allowed time to practice piano, and as a result, I advanced significantly during this period.”–Condoleeza Rice

“Occasionally, if I did well in my schoolwork, we would knock off a little early and go shopping in downtown Birmingham. One such trip yielded my first Barbie doll, dressed in the iconic black and white zebra-striped bathing suit. But for the most part, my mother was all business and very demanding.”

“But for the most part, my mother was all business and very demanding.”–Condoleeza Rice

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Note: She wrote, “After launching me academically, my mother returned to work.” She was educated at home for a year or two. I like how she talks about the extra time she gained with homeschooling allowed her to advance quickly.

For ideas on adding more structure to your schedule, you may be interested in:

Academic Scheduling for More Experiential Learning Part One

Academic Scheduling for More Experiential Learning Part Two

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Homeschool Role Models For My Daughters

Both the first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor, and former Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, were homeschooled for part of their education. At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, we snapped pictures of my daughters next to plaques with these inspiring women.