Billionaire Elon Musk has an unconventional and highly hands-on approach to raising his children, especially his son X Æ A-12, often seen accompanying Musk around the globe on various business ventures. Musk’s unique parenting choices have sparked discussions recently due to a public appeal from X’s maternal grandmother.
Family Conflict Over Time with Son X
At present, Musk and X are in Paris attending the Olympics, but X’s grandmother, Sandy Garossino, made a public plea through social media urging Musk to bring X to Canada to visit his dying great-grandmother. She explained that the 93-year-old woman, X’s great-grandmother, is in her final days and longs to meet him for the first time. Despite multiple family members gathering at her side, X remains absent. Grimes, Musk’s former partner and the mother of X, shared her mother’s plea on social media, further bringing attention to the issue.
Grimes and Musk had three children during their relationship, and since their split, tensions have surfaced over custody and the upbringing of their son X. Musk has been vocal about his desire to raise X himself and take the lead in shaping his future. The billionaire even considers X as a likely heir among his 11 children, showcasing the importance Musk places on his son’s upbringing.
Musk’s Unique Educational Philosophy
Musk’s hands-on parenting reflects his unconventional ideas about education. He allows X and his other children to spend substantial time on the internet, arguing that it is an essential educational tool in today’s world. “The internet is an important part of learning for kids,” Musk has said, highlighting the vast knowledge children can access online. Musk is less concerned with traditional education, believing that schools should not just teach knowledge but also be a place where children discover their strengths and passions.
In line with his views, Musk founded Ad Astra, a private school for his children and other SpaceX employees’ kids. The school focuses on subjects Musk considers essential for the future, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while omitting traditional subjects like languages and arts. Musk reasons that artificial intelligence will soon render language learning less important as translation technologies improve.
Musk’s Broader Educational Vision
Musk’s educational ambitions extend beyond Ad Astra. He has plans to create a more expansive, non-profit school system called K-12, to be based in Texas. This system will emphasize STEM education, aiming to revolutionize how children are educated by focusing on innovation, critical thinking, and real-world applications of knowledge. Musk believes this shift is crucial to preparing future generations for the challenges of tomorrow.
Musk’s ultimate goal is to prepare his children and future students for the evolving demands of the modern world. He views traditional education as inadequate for shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.
