This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Afternoon Session of the October 1992 Conference.
I found some old math pages from our homeschool awhile ago, and it made me laugh to see set forth so plainly the differences between two of my children. Here is child #1's work:
I know it's not big news that different children have different learning styles and different talents. But I guess it IS surprising to me to watch those things unfolding over the years. Those traits that were latent and potential in childhood—only able to be guessed at, really—are now driving real decisions with real consequences. It scares me, honestly, knowing that my role as a mother is increasingly only a supporting one—but that it must BE a supporting one in all the right ways. And I am very often unclear on what those ways should be.
Elder Packer gave an interesting talk about education in the October 1992 Conference. Now that Sam and I are getting to this stage of life where our children are beginning to make big decisions about what comes next for them, and we're trying to figure out how their preferences and our hopes and this world we live in might interact, I have been pondering a lot of questions in my heart. Elder Packer's words here spoke to me surprisingly directly:
This summer at a family reunion, Sister Packer and I announced the end of a family tradition. Our ten children and some of our grandchildren have attended BYU. It will not be possible for all of our grandchildren to follow that tradition.We advised them to follow the counsel of the Brethren. If they cannot attend a Church school, and this will be increasingly the case, they should gather with other members of the Church at a school where an institute of religion is available to them. Then, as they study secular subjects, they may learn the “covenants and church articles” as the scriptures tell us we should. (D&C 42:13.)They will not be judged on how many degrees they hold or how extensive their schooling may be, but on how well educated they are in those things which are of eternal value.We told our family that we will be quite as proud of them learning a trade as we would a profession. We will be equally pleased with them if they choose vocational schools and make their living with their hands.After all, education continues as long as we live. If there is ever an end to secular learning, surely there is no end to spiritual learning.The Lord’s work moves forward on the strength of those who labor in the workaday world: the apprentice, artisan, journeyman, laborer, office worker, waitress, and, in a class by itself—homemaker.
Then he emphasizes a part of scripture I've never really thought about much before:
We must not ignore these warnings in the Book of Mormon:“The people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.“Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; …“And thus there became a great inequality … insomuch that the church began to be broken up.”
Jacob warned us of those who “when they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.” He added: “But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” (emphasis is Elder Packer's)
I don't know, it has just made me thoughtful. What is true education and how can we best seek it? What surprising places might it take us? How can we best encourage our children to seek it? How much of their current trajectory is based on tradition and the path of least resistance, rather than intention and seeking revelation? How much emphasis ought to be based on conventional wisdom, and how much on their unique gifts? And what can I do to make sure my OWN education continues "as long as I live"?
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