Calling all Adventurers to Cross the Atlantic

Imagine yourself standing on Tower Bridge in London. You look out across the Thames and see the Tower of London built almost 1000 years ago by William the Conqueror. You see Westminster Palace where the House of Lords and the House of Commons continue the tradition of representative government established by the Barons in 1215 and say a quiet thank you to them for the tradition of freedom they established for our time.

Close your eyes and you are transported back to old London where the sound of yelling merchants, rambunctious sailors docking ships, noisy cart wheels bouncing along the cobblestone streets, performers calling for audiences, and where even beggars and dogs joined the fray in assailing your senses. Opening your eyes you hear the modern sound of honking cars and the constant rumble of traffic, the voices of tourists and the music of a street dancer; and you realize that London remains very much the same as it was a couple hundred years ago.

Dr. Andrew Groft is adding a third bus to the 2009 European Excursion! It is still possible for you to claim a seat in a great adventure. There are limited openings and so act quickly to take advantage of a grand tour. You will make friends and meet history in a way that few who travel get to experience it. In just one month, you will see, touch, and listen firsthand to the big picture of Western history. As Emerson said, “all history is autobiography.” By going to Europe, we begin to understand our own story of life. The mentored journey is unique because tourism changes to human discovery, and hundred-year-old churches become the setting of vivid action sequences.

Look closely at the day-by-day itinerary and you will be amazed at how many once-in-a-lifetime adventures we are going to experience for such a reasonable price.

This trip is going to be even better than the last two European Adventures that Dr. Groft has sponsored! To view the day-by-day itinerary and see more information on reserving your seat, go to www.gw.edu/europe2009.

Next thing you know you will be walking down the streets of the beautiful Seine River in Paris. You will stop in front of the May Courtyard of the Palace of Justice where royal French prisoners waited for the carts to come take them to the guillotine during the French Revolution and across the street; you will see the Rose Window of the Notre Dame Cathedral—a monument to God. Finally, you will open your mind and your heart and wonder at the contrast between mercy and justice held on one small isle in central Paris. This experience can occur in many different countries and places on our journey.

We invite any fun-loving and educationally minded adults and youth to adventure to England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, Greece, the Greek Isles and Turkey.

If you would like to come with us in 2009, please reserve your space by sending a check or money order in the amount of $595, along with the reservation form found on-line (www.gw.edu/europe2009), to:

Dr. Groft: 2009 Europe Adventure
70 South Sage Drive
Cedar City, UT 84720

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George Wythe University Commencement 2008

By Margret Milius

When a deed is done for Freedom, through the broad earth’s aching breast

Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from east to west,

And the slave, where’er he cowers, feels the soul within him climb

To the awful verge of manhood, as the energy sublime

Of a century bursts full-blossomed on the thorny stem of Time.

As the graduates finished filing to the front of the stage, the house went black and a single light appeared as once more we heard the George Wythe College Hymn performed. These first stanzas thrilled the audience as the words of James Russell Lowell came to life with Martha Levie’s performance. It was a poignant end to the ceremonies and a warm summary of the overall theme of this year’s Commencement. A theme of hope amongst troubled times pervaded. Each speaker emphasized that Statesmanship is not the easiest path, nor the fastest, but with it, freedom would prevail.

The atmosphere of harmony created by the beautiful performance of A. Corelli’s La Folia, performed by Emily Black on the piano and Kimberli Hansen on the violin, prepared us for the proffered thoughts of each address.

Bryan Hyde, Valedictorian of the class of 2008, engaged the audience with his professional voice. He spoke of the tendency to defer responsibility to others, “Everyone can agree that statesmanship is a wonderful thing but we would prefer it to be practiced by someone else…Instead of someone calling out, ‘please, be a Statesman,’ we need someone to say, ‘you, be a Statesman.’”

Jason Gardener, Salutatorian, lightened the mood as he listed steps to gaining a great education from a “lazy-boy”. He emphasized that it is not easy, “thinking hurts! If we don’t think for ourselves…someone will be glad to do it for us.”

Emily Black, Salutatorian, captivated us as she began, “You see it in the faces.” She said, “the most important work of any generation is to reclaim the faces.” She described the sorrow and bitter numbness of faces lost in calamity, finishing, “Humanity is our work. It will be difficult. There is no question that these times will try our souls. Our reward will be the faces.”

Each Graduate accepted their diplomas from Dr. Groft, President of the Cedar Campus, with a smile and radiance of accomplishment. A standing ovation met the new Dr. Elizabeth Smailes as she received the rarely awarded “Thomas Jefferson Degree.”

Dr. Shane Schulthies, in his Keynote Address, lamented the inability to participate in a dialogue with the audience in this setting. He created the vision of each graduate and audience member sitting within a room as they discussed a valid and variable issue of these times—fear. Many people see the bleak outlook of the future and choose to live without family to protect innocent children from entering an awful worldwide crisis. “As you may know, I now have ten children,” said Dr. Schulthies, bringing a chuckle from the audience. He continued, “I have reasons for optimism.”

“Freedom is one of the greatest factors for good on this earth…overall, our world is freer than at any other time,” said Schulthies. In reply to the criticism and hopeless forecast of the current generation’s selfish lack of initiative or ability to sacrifice, he said, “…when the crisis arrives, many will arise to the crisis.” He emphasized the current high rate of service compared to the low rate of confidence in the government. “It is not the township forms that mattered but the township spirit,” he told us, “seeds of this township spirit lie buried in the hearts of 1000s.” He shared his optimistic hope in a Divine Creator.

Turning to the Graduates, he said, “As you commence on your lives, may I suggest two areas in which we do fall short, especially if we will have the future which I envision.”

He spoke first of Wisdom, through which we gain “a keen understanding, that only Liber Education can bring, of human nature, societal forms, and principles.” Second, he emphasized the need for Leadership, “Crises require exceptional cooperation but this does not happen without exceptional Leadership.” Dr. Schulthies named this special leadership, Statesmanship, “to help move what is to what ought to be.”

His parting challenge was that “you commence to be Statesmen, that you be men and women of virtue, wisdom, diplomacy, and courage, who inspire greatness in others and move the cause of liberty.”

The house lights came up following the benediction and the audience began happy reunions with old friends and swarmed around the graduates offering congratulations with the final stanzas of the college hymn still ringing in their ears,

New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth;

They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth;

Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! We ourselves must Pilgrims be,

Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,

Nor attempt the Future’s portal with the Past’s blood-rusted key.

View the Commencement 2008 Photo Gallery

Class of 2008

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George Wythe University Hosts Education Conference

George Wythe University hosted two conventions on Thomas Jefferson Education back-to-back in Cedar City, Utah this past August. The first convention provided an introduction to those new to TJEd and the second was geared towards those who had more experience implementing the principles of Leadership Education.

Both conventions offered in-depth coverage of Leadership Education for participants across the educational spectrum and were attended by parents and professionals from home, private and public schools as well as those representing co-ops and other community groups. The broad appeal of Thomas Jefferson Education was expressed by one attendee who stated “This concept [TJEd] is perfect for any culture, socio-economic status, religious affiliation or background.”¹

The Beginning Convention covered the foundational principles of Leadership Education including the Phases, the Seven Keys and the Five Environments of Learning. Said one attendee “I am very glad I came. I was able to get the information I needed to confidently begin using TJEd…”

The Advanced Convention helped attendees bridge the gap between the principles of TJEd – which are applicable everywhere – and the implementation or methods that can spring from TJEd which can vary significantly from one setting to the next. Audience response to these sessions was very positive. Dr. Shane Schulthies’ presentation, for example, entitled “The Mentor Creed: Becoming Truly Inspiring” elicited this response from one educator: “[This presentation] changed my life! This was extremely helpful in understanding how to be inspiring to my children and others.”

Parents and professional educators alike responded positively to the content covered over the three days. One public school teacher provided the following feedback:

“[I was] greatly impressed with the presenters: depth of knowledge, ability to articulate information and engage the audience in participation. Fabulous conference! Well organized, dynamic speakers and great facilities. I am a 25 year elementary public school educator and have attended many conferences. This was the most impressive group of professionals I have had an opportunity to hear.”

“The seminar was excellent! My whole perspective of how I would like to raise my children and how I would like to further my education was changed. …[The presenters were] amazing and I am looking forward to furthering my education with their knowledge and advice in mind. Thank You to all who spoke!”

One couple brought their children to more fully familiarize them with the principles being used to guide their education. She had this to say:

“We attended the TJEd convention in order to bring two of our children to learn more about what they are doing and to have the experience first hand of what TJEd is all about. Thank you! It was awesome and we are grateful you held it even though Dr. DeMille couldn’t be there. Our son (13) and daughter (15) learned a lot and they were glad they could be there.”

Others brought spouses in an effort to promote a unified parenting philosophy. Said one attendee:

“I brought my husband in hopes of ‘converting’ him to Leadership Education. …Well, you did it! Rachel said several things that touched his heart so he would open his mind…  Each of the other presenters, all of them, said something that helped, too. So, when I say you changed my life, and my husband’s, and our children’s – I’m not kidding!! …Thanks…for all the wonderful presentations!”

Over the past several years a number of TJEd-based organizations have been founded to serve the needs of particular age or geographic-specific groups. Several presentations were given by the founders of some of these groups and were well received. One such presentation by HomeFires founders Diann Jeppson & Jodie Palmer prompted one attendee to comment:

“Although I’ve been doing TJEd for awhile and studied it quite a bit, I found the [session on the TJEd] Continuum one of the best presentations all weekend.”

Another attendee commented about Leadership Education Mentoring Institute co-founder Tiffany Earl’s presentation: “I can’t wait to start Tiffany’s Parent Mentor program!”

Not everything about the conventions met the participant’s expectations, but overall the events were a wonderful success. Said one participant, “Although the physical accommodations were uncomfortable and the acoustics were poor, this convention was one of the top ten most powerful and best experiences in my life. Thank you!!!!!!”

A sincere “thank you” from us at George Wythe to all those who are working to improve the educational experiences of those in their homes and communities and took time out of their schedules to attend these events.

The principles of Thomas Jefferson Education have been taught throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico for the better part of two decades and are being implemented in a wide variety of educational settings. To learn more about Thomas Jefferson Education click here. To learn more about the George Wythe University programs designed to assist educators further their own education, including 5 Pillar Certification and our Off-Campus degree programs, please visit our website.

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