Reality stars Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar are open about their religious beliefs, conservative
values, and love for Tater Tot casserole, but the famous parents of 19 Kids & Counting
have been less transparent about a little thing called education.
This is how far the Duggars really got in school.
According to HuffPost, there are conflicting reports regarding the quality of Michelle
Duggar's homeschooling program, known as Accelerated Christian Education, or A.C.E.
She blogged for TLC.com,
"James, are you done with your homework?"
"No not yet"
But don't let Michelle's gentle demeanor fool you.
This mom of 19 is strict about her kids' education, ensuring that all of her young children complete
standardized testing at the end of each school year.
And as for the older kids, Michelle encourages them to earn their G.E.D., even though it's
not a requirement in their home state of Arkansas.
While Michelle and Jim Bob both attended school outside of their homes, Michelle wrote,
So what have the Duggar kids been studying since leaving the nest?
It's no secret Jill Duggar was passionate about nursing and midwifery as a young girl,
as fans got to see on 19 Kids & Counting and its spin-off Counting On.
"We are really getting in there, and getting to experience what midwifery and doula roles
look like hands-on"
Jill earned her CPM, or Certified Professional Midwife license in 2015, less than a year
after she welcomed her son, Israel, into the world.
A CPM does differ from a Certified Nurse Midwife, or CNM.
According to InTouch, the latter certification, which Jill does not have, involves…
Jill's husband, Derek Dillard, is a proud alumnus of Oklahoma State University, where
he received his BSBA in accounting and economics.
After putting his degree to use as a tax accountant for Walmart, Dillard entered the University
of Arkansas law school program in fall 2018.
As for how Jill's handling this new chapter, with two young kids, according to Instagram,
it looks like she occasionally sits in on her husband's classes.
Joseph Duggar started out attending Crown Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee.
"Our family we were all homeschooled growing up, Joseph has really only been the first
Duggar to do like actually go into a brick and mortar like college."
But a year later, Joseph was back at home in Arkansas doing construction for the family
business, according to Facebook, and planned to get his real estate and commercial driving
licenses.
Jessa Duggar's husband, Ben Seewald, became a college grad in 2015, after studying political
science at National Park College.
Seewald also expressed an interest in pursuing seminary school, post-college.
"It's gonna be a big learning experience for me."
Ben's dad, Michael Seewald, told People magazine,
John-David Duggar's wife, Abbie Burnett, earned her nursing degree before getting hitched
in November 2018.
Abbie is a Licensed Practical Nurse, according to The Ashley's Reality Roundup, having completed
an approved licensing program in Oklahoma.
It's not clear whether she intends to transfer her nursing license now that she's living
in Arkansas with John-David, but many want her to stay on the nursing track.
One viewer wrote on Reddit,
Josiah Duggar's wife, Lauren Swanson, attended Georgia Military College when she was just
16 years old.
She said on Counting On,
"It was a program for students that weren't finished with their high school"
"And we were able to take college and high school classes at the same time."
She added,
"So, in two years we graduated high school and got a associates degree."
Lauren originally pursued nursing, but despite her early ambitions, she later shifted gears,
candidly offering,
"I just don't actually enjoy school, and I don't see myself becoming a nurse now."
Jinger Duggar's husband, Jeremy Vuolo, is a self-proclaimed bookworm who attended Hartwick
College and Syracuse University before getting married.
"Books are important to me because they open up a whole different world of knowledge"
He was a goal keeper for the Syracuse soccer team, and later went pro with the New York
Red Bulls.
But not all of Vuolo's school-aged memories are positive.
In 2008 he was arrested for harassment against a police officer, while intoxicated, according
to court docs obtained by Radar Online.
But Vuolo bounced back, and in May 2018, he decided to continue his studies at Master's
Seminary School.