Note: I originally wrote this article about three years ago, before Elon Musk became such a polarizing figure. A lot has changed since then, but I still stand by the educational ideas here—I think they’re worth discussing, no matter how you feel about his role in current events. This isn’t about politics, just education.
Sporcle quizzes were my go-to in college—especially the “Name the 50 State Capitals” one. I can rattle off every Disney villain’s name without breaking a sweat, but when it came to the state capitals quiz? I got 6 right. Six. Of 50. The capitals I knew in school vanished the second I finished the test, but I can still tell you who’s behind every evil plot in Disney movies. Why? Because learning about villains is interesting to me. It’s personal, tied to stories I’ve loved for years.
This made me realize something: the way we learn in school doesn’t always stick. Enter Elon Musk, who challenged the norms when he started his school, Ad Astra, for his kids and a few others at SpaceX. Love him or hate him, you have to admit—Elon Musk asks big questions. When he couldn’t find a school that fit his vision for education, he started his own. His approach? Less rote memorization, more problem-solving and creativity.
And whether or not you agree with everything he says, some of his insights hit hard—especially if you’re homeschooling. These Elon Musk quotes on education highlight his unconventional approach offering a fresh perspective on how kids learn best.
Why Grade Levels Don’t Make Sense
“There aren’t any grades… making all the children go in the same grade at the same time like an assembly line, because some people love English or languages. Some people love math. Some people love music. Different abilities, different times. It makes more sense to cater the education to match their aptitudes and abilities.” -Elon Musk
Before the 19th century, education didn’t operate by grade levels. It wasn’t a bad system; it just didn’t meet the demand for mass public education. The result? The assembly line approach to schooling. It works, but not for everyone.
So, here’s the challenge: Stop comparing your child to the “average” student. If they excel at writing, let them write. If they’re struggling with math, go back to basics. Focus on where they are, not where they should be. Tailor the learning experience to their strengths and needs, and they’ll thrive.
Find the Intersection of Talent and Interest
“Read broadly in many different subject areas, and then try to find something where there’s an overlap of your talents and what you’re interested in…people may have skill at a particular thing but don’t like doing it.” -Elon Musk
Elon Musk didn’t just focus on one area. He explored a variety of topics—because the real magic happens when you find where your skills and interests meet. I was laser-focused on engineering for years, but it wasn’t until quarantine that I realized my love for art, and just last week, writing clicked for me.
Help your child explore a wide range of subjects, but also pay attention to where their skills and interests overlap. It’s the balance between depth and breadth that sparks real growth.
Teach to the Problem, Not the Tool
In the spirit of going against the norms, I’ve saved the best for the middle.
“Let’s say you’re trying to teach people about how engines work. A more traditional approach would be to say, ‘we’re going to teach all about screwdrivers and wrenches’… and you’re going to have a course on screwdrivers and a course on wrenches… A much better way would be like, ‘here’s the engine. Now let’s take it apart. How are we going to take it apart? Ah! You need a screwdriver. That’s what the screwdriver is for. You need a wrench, that’s what the wrench is for.’ And then a very important thing happens: The relevance of the tools becomes apparent.” -Elon Musk
This quote sums up my philosophy: Humans learn best when solving real problems, not memorizing facts that seem disconnected. How many of us have asked, “Why do I need to know this?” when learning something in school? That’s because we weren’t taught the context or purpose of it.
Whenever your child is studying something—whether it’s math, history, or science—connect it to a real-world problem. If they’re learning to count, set up a pretend store. If they’re learning about area, have them design their dream home. When we make learning relevant, it sticks.
Make Learning Feel Like a Game
“Generally you want education to be like as close to a video game as possible… like a good video game. You do not need to tell your kid to play video games, they will play video games on autopilot all day. So, if you can make it interactive and engaging…then you can make education far more compelling and far easier to do.” -Elon Musk
Now, before you panic—no, I’m not telling you to hand your kid an Xbox and call it school. Gamification isn’t about screens; it’s about what makes games work. My family plays board games constantly, and through them, my kids practice critical thinking, strategy, math, teamwork, and even a little diplomacy (mostly over who gets the last cookie).
Think beyond just playing games. What makes learning feel like a game? Progress toward a goal, rewards, creative problem-solving, the freedom to explore, and the freedom to fail. Whether it’s using board games, challenges, or real-world problem-solving, applying game principles can make learning as addictive as the best video game—without the screen time. For practical ways to apply these ideas at home, check out The Learning Game by Ana Lorena Fabrega.
Make more pie
“You really want to make sure that you’re not operating without realizing it from a zero-sum mindset, where the only way to get ahead is to take things from others, then that’s going to result with you trying to take things from others which is not good. It’s much better to work on adding to the economic pie. You know, creating more than you consume.” -Elon Musk
When kids understand this, it transforms their problem-solving. They realize that cooperation creates a bigger pie for all, not just more conflict over the same tiny one. It’s not about “me vs. you”—it’s about how we all can benefit by working together.
Next time your kids argue, point out that working together actually increases the pie for everyone. My kids once spent five minutes fighting over who should go down the slide first. No one was sliding. No one was having fun. But the moment one offered to go second? They both got more turns, more fun, and a bigger ‘pie.’ When they work together, everyone gets more pie—and more fun!”
What These Elon Musk Quotes on Education Mean for Homeschooling Parents
These honestly have shaped the way I raise my kids and even create screen-free coding resources for Salt & Lightspeed. I want my children to be kind, thoughtful problem-solvers, to love learning, and to pursue what they’re good at and what excites them. I want them to see problems as systems and think creatively to solve them.
If you’re looking for a practical way to approach this, check out Salt and Lightspeed’s homeschool coding guide! It’s packed with unplugged activities designed to teach kids coding through storytelling, art, and hands-on experiences—without screens.
Here’s to creating more pie :).