Educating: A Memoir

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Dr. Kerry: Westover's professor at BYU. He helps her get a spot in the study abroad program to Cambridge and encourages/supports her in her academic career. One of my favorite courses that I took in college was dedicated to the study of memoirs. I find it truly fascinating that one person's account of an event can be completely different from another person's perspective of the same event. We studied Holocaust literature that recounted a prison camp revolt where the prisoners stated that there were three explosions in an attempt to blow up a crematorium. However, historians who have studied this attempt to overthrow the prison stated that only one explosion took place. Why do I recount this to you now? Because it BEGS the question: if someone's reality and perception of an event differs from historical accuracy, does it make it any less true or real to the reality of the person who experienced said incident? Do we discount what was perceived and experienced in the mind's eye of the witnesses or always side with cold, hard facts? Perhaps in the trauma of overturning their Nazi guards, prisoners in the frenzy of everything did traumatically experience three explosions or echoes of the first explosion. That is their reality. That is their truth/memoir. Sorry, I tend to geek out on this subject. But, because this is LaRee Westover's truth/memoir, do we hold it up against Tara's and only find fault? In reading this book, did I, as a reader, find her truth to be less believable than her daughters? Yes. But I don't discount that LaRee's perception of events recounted in both of these books is any less "true" than Tara's recounting of occurrences. The books I have identified, with the help of members of the Institute of Ideas’ Education Forum, teachers and colleagues at several universities, constitute an attempt at an education “canon”. Tara tells us in her book that she doesn’t want to see her father again. She needs to sever those ties to go on with her life–without his control. She has a right to refuse to see him. It’s sad that LaRee won’t see her own daughter without her husband. Educated named one of the Best Books of the year by The Washington Post, O, The Oprah Magazine, Time, NPR, Good Morning America, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian, The Economist, Financial Times, The New York Post, The Skimm, Bloomberg, Real Simple, Town & Country, Bustle, Publishers Weekly, The Library Journal, Book Riot, and the New York Public Library. [ citation needed]

To those who have not had such experiences or feelings, her testimony or beliefs may appear to be awkward and confusing. To those who have witnessed similar feelings and experiences, her accounts may still feel awkward and confusing. “The Spirit whispered reassurances and peace,” she says in one instance of true alarm while attending to serious burns at home (p. 246). She also notes that Val may have “pushed safety protocols somewhat as he is used to heaven’s protection” (p. 243). These are but a few of the many, many religious experiences LaRee shares in her book.LaRee sees Val in a different light. As a youth, she had experienced a troublesome, manipulative relationship with another young man. The book’s first few chapters go into detail about the experience. Her parents were concerned then, and their concern continued when she married Val: “Did Val, as my family claims, drag me against my will out of the middle of the road?” She says they didn’t. But LaRee spends a lot of book space telling us about the former dysfunctional relationship, and it’s confusing to a reader as to why, especially when her relationship with Val has been troublesome. Though many of the events prior to His coming are prophesied in scripture to be frightful, there are also many beautiful things to come. We are taught to look forward, await His arrival with hope, and prepare ourselves spiritually. In physical preparation, church members are encouraged to gain a supply of food storage and necessities for emergencies. Nowhere in official church publications or talks is counsel given for the storage of ammunition and arms or the preparation of self-defense measures. In fact, we are counseled against it. Robin: Westover's second-year roommate. She helps her adjust to living with strangers and other aspects of life off the mountain. I can’t wrap my head around this book. It was gross. It felt gross reading it. She should have never written it and just left Tara’s story alone, her and Val looked better that way. It’s much worse now. So cringey.

I understand the desire to be off grid and out of government structures but the protections seem to be lost and the exposure of the family to danger seems unforgivable. I also see a great deal of frustration as families try to ascertain what will work best for them. I tell these harried parents that filling in for the teacher temporarily is not the same as settling into homeschooling as a way of life and that it will get easier as they proceed. I feel a great deal of admiration for them as they take it on, adjusting and making the best of challenging situations. It definitely leaves me a little unsettled. I’m sad for the distance and pain that the parents describe, but I cannot forget how relieved I was when I read about Tara gaining distance and mental health from the abuse that she experienced from her parents and brother Travis The educational changes being implemented as a result of Covid-19 are changing perspectives about education. Parents everywhere are now carrying more of the responsibility of educating their children, and they are discovering how challenging— and how rewarding—it is to interact with your children in this way day in and day out. I see parents having the same desires for their children’s educations that we had in our day.The family experienced two major car accidents, resulting in serious injuries. Val battles additional injuries and health concerns. Why was medical care not sought during these critical times? According to Tara’s account, both car accidents occurred while returning home from Arizona visits to Grandma. At Val’s insistence, they leave late in the day, causing drowsiness while driving. In the first incident. Val was at the wheel. The second time, one of his sons was at the wheel.