Talk:Mystery:Was Charles Fefferman Homeschooled?
Bearing in mind how 'homeschooling' is defined, the chances are Fefferman isn't a product of homeschooling, but rather radical acceleration. Radical accelerates is the term used to describe gifted students who jump from junior high to college education, bypassing the high school years. The case study "From Eighth Grade to Selective College in One Jump: Case Studies in Radical Acceleration."[1] used both Fefferman and Norbert Weiner as examples.
Although it's not conclusive, the implication is that both were within the formal schooling system and were rapidly accelerated through it. Welshman 06:56, 4 April 2008 (EDT)
- Good point, and you may be right. But Fefferman was in junior high school for only one year, and there are indications that he was not there in traditional progression with a former elementary school class. Rather, I think Fefferman was placed in that school out of step, and may have had difficulties fitting in perhaps because there were unfamiliar classmates and perhaps even school itself was unfamiliar to him altogether. That points to a possibility (a likelihood?) that Fefferman was homeschooled before his short-lived period in junior high.--Aschlafly 09:32, 4 April 2008 (EDT)
- I really don't have much at stake in the mystery and feel that contacting a distinguished mathematician like Fefferman for something that I don't find crucial is not something I should do, but if it's keeping you up at night, you can email him at cf@math.princeton.edu. I retrieved the email from Princeton's website, so I'm not putting anything out there that isn't already easily available. ArnoldFriend 14:51, 28 January 2009 (EST)
The question posed to Charles Fefferman has not been posted, so it's unclear to what he was responding. Also, unfortunately the answer does not shed light on what his education really was, if it did not include some homeschooling.--Andy Schlafly 16:26, 17 February 2009 (EST)