When Americans think about education, they see a school. They take the notion of spending their formative years in a school setting for granted. In fact, American children will attend at least three or four schools in their youth: elementary school (grades K-5), middle school (grades 6-8), high school (grades 9 – 12) and – in many cases – college. Schools have become both a rite of passage as well as the singular accepted methodology for education in this country. This view of educating children in a formal classroom setting, however, is a relatively modern (and largely western) notion.

The trail in the background is said to be the tracks from the wagons heading west.

Our drive north was again very beautiful.  The plains were lined with bighorn antelope (which we of course then had to research) that are currently migrating north to Yellowstone.  We learned that they migrate very quickly and we can verify that after seeing them moving through the plains.

Day One–Colorado Springs

We started out with a plan to tackle Pike’s Peak the easy way—via train. But, when we arrived to discover that the next available train would not leave for 2 hours, we decided to take a hike—straight up!

View from part way up the incline trail

My eyes are opened more and more every day to the fact that the History our children study through secular publishers is inaccurate.

A recent US History textbook I examined dedicated three full pages to the settlers who came to Williamsburg in the search for gold.  It never mentioned those who came for religious freedom.