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| | But there was far greater inventor than even Alexander Graham Bell, and he was homeschooled virtually his entire life: Thomas Edison. At the age of 7 years, Edison was sent to the local public school. The public school teacher was irritated by Edison's curiosity and questions, and aggravated by his failure to follow directions like the rest of the class. She concluded that Edison was an idiot who was incapable of learning,<ref>Specifically, the teacher concluded that Edison's brain had been "scrambled" or "addled".</ref> and after merely three months the teacher told young Edison's mother that. | | But there was far greater inventor than even Alexander Graham Bell, and he was homeschooled virtually his entire life: Thomas Edison. At the age of 7 years, Edison was sent to the local public school. The public school teacher was irritated by Edison's curiosity and questions, and aggravated by his failure to follow directions like the rest of the class. She concluded that Edison was an idiot who was incapable of learning,<ref>Specifically, the teacher concluded that Edison's brain had been "scrambled" or "addled".</ref> and after merely three months the teacher told young Edison's mother that. |
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| − | Mrs. Edison was furious at the teacher and the public school. She immediately pulled young Thomas out of school and never sent him back. She then homeschooled him by reading from the Bible, and his father encouraged young Thomas to read the classics. Young Thomas became an voracious reader and, by the age of 12, became interested in science, chemistry and the works of Isaac Newton. Young Thomas also became an entrepreneur as a teenager, first publishing a newspaper and then memorizing Morse Code so that he could get a job transmitting messages over the telegraph by age 15. He was a very hard worker who would put in 12-hour days, 6 days a week, and then invent in his spare time. | + | Mrs. Edison was furious at the teacher and the public school. She immediately pulled young Thomas out of school and never sent him back. She then homeschooled him by reading from the Bible, and his father encouraged young Thomas to read the classics. Young Thomas became an voracious reader and, by the age of 12, became interested in science, chemistry and the works of Isaac Newton. Young Thomas also became an entrepreneur as a teenager, first publishing a newspaper and then memorizing Morse Code so that he could get a job transmitting messages over the telegraph by age 15. He was a very hard worker who would put in 12-hour days, 6 days a week, and then invent in his spare time. His famous quotes include:<ref>http://quotations.about.com/od/stillmorefamouspeople/a/ThomasEdison2.htm</ref> |
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| | + | *Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. |
| | + | *Everything comes to him that hustles while he waits. |
| | + | *I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by a |
| | + | *Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. |
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| | This homeschooler changed the world, and is considered by many historians to have been the most influential person in the entire world over the ''last millennium'' (1000 years). Known as the "Wizard of Menlo Park," which is a town in northern New Jersey next to the town named after him (Edison), Edison did his best work in New Jersey. One historian wrote about him:<ref name="Edison">From "The Heroes Of The Age: Electricity And Man," http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html</ref> | | This homeschooler changed the world, and is considered by many historians to have been the most influential person in the entire world over the ''last millennium'' (1000 years). Known as the "Wizard of Menlo Park," which is a town in northern New Jersey next to the town named after him (Edison), Edison did his best work in New Jersey. One historian wrote about him:<ref name="Edison">From "The Heroes Of The Age: Electricity And Man," http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html</ref> |
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| | Edison's inventions (from 1875 to about 1900) include a list of most modern technology: | | Edison's inventions (from 1875 to about 1900) include a list of most modern technology: |
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| | + | * an ''automated'' telegraph system |
| | * improved the telephone so that it would be practical | | * improved the telephone so that it would be practical |
| | * an office copying machine (mimeograph) | | * an office copying machine (mimeograph) |