Washington’s Education

Another interesting historical tidbit from Gatto about George Washington’s self-directed education:

Washington attended school for exactly two years. Besides the subjects mentioned, at twelve and thirteen (and later) he studied frequently used legal forms like bills of exchange, tobacco receipts, leases, and patents. From these forms, he was asked to deduce the theory, philosophy, and custom which produced them.

Seems really smart, I think, to start from what you have on-hand and then sort of reverse-engineer (I love that word!) back from that to the thinking that created it. Seems like something a lot of us do pretty naturally as it is when we’re learning.


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This entry was written by happy thanksgiving, y'all!, posted on July 27, 2005 at 6:55 pm.

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One Comment

  1. brekin
    Posted July 27, 2005 at 7:52 pm | Permalink

    Washington also dutifully copied out a “manners” or “decorum” book, which he adopted as his maxims. It supposedly was based on Jesuit teachings.
    Washingtons education is also interesting for it’s emphasis on the “physical”. He supposedly was a dancing fool which allowed his large frame to be graceful, and their are many accounts where people say he was the best horseman they ever saw.

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