When children receive leadership education, they are taught how to think and how to be leaders. They learn to lead at home, in their community, in business, and in government.

This is the sort of education that most parents would like for their children. I know I want my children to be innovative thinkers.

Throughout history, the greatest thinkers and leaders have been taught using a mentors and tutors in their homes.

As their education progresses, they would move on to prep schools and study the classics continuing a mentor approach.

Ultimately, it is the mentor system that develops leaders. Sadly, the leaders that we usually think of in America are trained to be professionals and specialists, not true leaders.

Today, our nation is mostly filled with people who would rather be followers. They either ignore or don’t even notice the system’s problems. If the next generation is going to be any better than this one, we need to teach our children to be great leaders who can make a difference.

Four important keys make up leadership education: Mentoring, classics, and time.

When we say “time,” we mean the students need enough time to learn. In order for your child to learn, it’s important to have some kind of structure. Older students may need education 5 days a week for 5 hours a day or so.

This allows ample time for your child to study and read. Younger children won’t need quite as much time.

We are going to combine mentoring and the classics. Leadership education consists of discussing the classics with mentors, which is part of learning how to think.

Both the mentor and the student should read the same classics. They should also both keep a journal, where they write down key ideas.

You can start the day off with a math lesson for the first hour, and writing or discussion with a mentor during the last hour. The time in between can be used for free reading, studying, and experimenting.

This learning pattern has existed for centuries, shaping students and equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need for leadership.

Leadership education encourages you to find a mentor your children can read the classics with. Most of us can probably say that we are familiar with history and literature classics, but there are classics that pertain to all subjects.

Even math and science has classics, such as Newton’s Principia Mathematics. No, you don’t have to start your child on this book, but when it’s time for a good classic in mathematics, it’s worth trying.

If you want your child to think logically and clearly, leadership education will provide the foundation. If you plan to mentor your child, you must be certain that you are a great thinker and learner yourself.