Thomas Edison was Homeschooled.

Feburary 11, 1847 is the birth date of Thomas Alva Edison, the American Scientist.

Stories of Thomas’s childhood differ on the minor facts. But all of the stories agree that from an eary age, Thomas was very curious about the world around him. He tried to teach himself through reading, experimenting, and asking lots of questions. He quizzed everyone about everything. His endless questions annoyed his father, but his mother was much more patient.

Thomas’ first grade teacher also didn’t appreciate his many questions. The teacher preferred that students not interrupt him, and he whipped those who did. Once the teacher called Thomas addled (slow-witted). The following day, Nancy Edison brought Thomas back to school to discuss this comment about her son. The teacher told Mrs. Edison that Thomas couldn’t learn, and Mrs. Edison became so angry that she took Thomas out of school and decided to teach him herself at home.

Thomas had always had ear problems. But at 15, while Thomas was trying to jump onto a moving train, a conductor, in an effort to help, grabbed Thomas’s ears to help pulll him up. Thomas said that he felt something snap inside his head, and soon he began to lose much of his hearing. Although he was told that surgery could have cured his hearing problem, Thomas refused to have it. He is quoted as saying that his deafness helped him to concentrate and encouraged him to read more. He was one of the first people to use the Detroit Free Library. He read all kinds of books, but his favorites were those relating to science and inventions.

For more information about Thomas Edison and other scientists, see

Janice VanCleave’s Scientist Through the Ages

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Janice VanCleave is the author of fifty-two science experiment books for kids with fifteen foreign translations. Children and educators around the world use her books to explore the world of science. And now Homeschool Bliss readers can too!

If you need more science informations and ideas, visit Janice’s website Science Project Ideas for Kids