From looking at the examples of the result of extravagant educations I presented in part I of this article, one would have to concur that an expensive education, could lead to an education that produces great leaders. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. Yes, studies have shown that richer, smarter parents have richer smarter kids. However, and more importantly than more money being spent, how available funds are spent is just as important.
Here are some examples of leaders whose education was much less than extravagant:
- Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor to George Bush, went to segregated public schools while subjected to the horrors of being raised to the civil rights movement in the South. The difference for her was that she attended private music and dance classes throughout her childhood. Her father also insisted that as a black child in that era, she had to work twice as hard as non-blacks did. Her efforts paid off brilliantly.
- Oprah Winfrey the person who had spurned this international debate did not receive a superior education. Infact, she is raised in abject poverty. She did however, have a grandmother who instilled the love for reading at an early age, and a father who used strict discipline to curb her wild ways when he took custody of her ate age 14. In addition to her studies, he demanded she read a book each week, and write a report on the book.
While I do not have the kind of money it takes to educate my kids lavishly, (and if I could, I probably would), I do have the good sense to take notes from the examples before me. Homeschooling allows us the flexibility to take the best of the extra advantages afforded to the rich and/or the fortunate and apply it to my children’s education. Therefore, while in many cases, an expensive and even lavish education may guarantee a great running start for a child, it seems to me that dedicated and involved parents can supply comparable advantages.
- Famous and influential formerly homeschooled adults include Whoopi Goldberg, Dave Thomas (founder or Wendy’s), and Peter Jennings (News Anchor). Also, while Will and Jada Pinkett Smith could very well afford and extravagant education for their kids, they homeschool them.