"Elon Musk's children don't go to normal school. And the reason why will change how you think about education.
He pulled his kids out of one of the most prestigious schools in Los Angeles. Parents were furious. Media called him arrogant. The school had a waitlist of thousands.
His response: "They're teaching kids to solve problems that already have answers. I need them to solve problems nobody's thought of yet."
So he built a school. Inside SpaceX. Called it Ad Astra. No grades. No tests. No subjects in the traditional sense.
A nine year old could take apart a rocket engine and present their findings to actual SpaceX engineers. Students didn't study history. They debated whether they'd make different decisions than historical leaders using the same information available at the time.
The school had no grade levels. A seven year old could work alongside a thirteen year old if they were interested in the same problem.
When asked why he structured it this way, Elon said something that stuck with me:
"I don't care if they know the answer. I care if they know which questions are worth asking."
Most people spend their entire education learning how to be right. Elon teaches his children how to be curious.
The system rewards answers. Life rewards questions."
might be interesting to intern and see how this school works
I like phonics, basic math, you need some basics to comprehend the values behind decision making - thinking of the song “I am the very model of a modern major general” (Gilbert & Sullivan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSGWoXDFM64
Bonus points for referencing G&S. I learned a lot looking up the meanings in the lyrics to "Major General"
I know the croaking chorus from The Frogs of Aristophanes!
Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore,
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin",
and it is all thanks to that song.
PS. I feel any post referencing defensive battlements, and great western philosophers is one of quality and deserving of karma.
great that you picked out keywords, I like theater more of the 1940s, and Cats & Phantom of the Opera, but this song “Major General” is memorable, and even children’s cartoon “Veggie Tales” did a parody, as the song does mention “vegetable”
It’s rapid fire momentum of the lyrics is whimsical.
you mentioned “defensive battlements” & I would say I also like
the lines of history “from Marathon to Waterloo” and it is ironic that there is a line he does not know much really about military tactics “ For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury”
Well, I had to look up mamelon and ravelin. But now I can reliably point them out on historic structures.
No one has ever asked me to do so, but such is the world of polite company.
"Elon Musk's children don't go to normal school. And the reason why will change how you think about education.
He pulled his kids out of one of the most prestigious schools in Los Angeles. Parents were furious. Media called him arrogant. The school had a waitlist of thousands.
His response: "They're teaching kids to solve problems that already have answers. I need them to solve problems nobody's thought of yet."
So he built a school. Inside SpaceX. Called it Ad Astra. No grades. No tests. No subjects in the traditional sense.
A nine year old could take apart a rocket engine and present their findings to actual SpaceX engineers. Students didn't study history. They debated whether they'd make different decisions than historical leaders using the same information available at the time.
The school had no grade levels. A seven year old could work alongside a thirteen year old if they were interested in the same problem.
When asked why he structured it this way, Elon said something that stuck with me:
"I don't care if they know the answer. I care if they know which questions are worth asking."
Most people spend their entire education learning how to be right. Elon teaches his children how to be curious.
The system rewards answers. Life rewards questions."
https://nitter.net/i/status/2061395834072117714
might be interesting to intern and see how this school works
I like phonics, basic math, you need some basics to comprehend the values behind decision making - thinking of the song “I am the very model of a modern major general” (Gilbert & Sullivan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSGWoXDFM64
Bonus points for referencing G&S. I learned a lot looking up the meanings in the lyrics to "Major General"
I know the croaking chorus from The Frogs of Aristophanes! Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore, And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.
I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin",
and it is all thanks to that song.
PS. I feel any post referencing defensive battlements, and great western philosophers is one of quality and deserving of karma.
Your opinion, please?
great that you picked out keywords, I like theater more of the 1940s, and Cats & Phantom of the Opera, but this song “Major General” is memorable, and even children’s cartoon “Veggie Tales” did a parody, as the song does mention “vegetable”
It’s rapid fire momentum of the lyrics is whimsical.
you mentioned “defensive battlements” & I would say I also like the lines of history “from Marathon to Waterloo” and it is ironic that there is a line he does not know much really about military tactics “ For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury”
Well, I had to look up mamelon and ravelin. But now I can reliably point them out on historic structures. No one has ever asked me to do so, but such is the world of polite company.