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deannareads's review
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
If you’ve ever questioned our corporate education system or thought about homeschooling, this book is a great resource. I don’t agree with every single thing the author states in this book but the insight is highly valuable. I wasn’t completely aware of the philosophy and history behind our current education system and this book is eye-opening. It is short, roughly 100 pages or so, and is based on speeches and essays by the author over his 40 year career as a teacher in NYC.
My two sons started private Christian preschool at 2 years old but entered the public school system in kindergarten. They had a great experience throughout elementary school and their teachers were amazing. It wasn’t until my oldest son started middle school that I began wondering if there was a different and better way to educate my children. There’s a lot more to our homeschool story and how I came to the decision to pull them out of the public school system about five years ago but I couldn’t possibly write everything here, it wouldn’t fit 😆
I think, as parents, we just have to decide what’s best for our families and what works for our kids in terms of education and it’s not one size fits all. This book isn’t just a criticism of the public school system. It also left me with a lot to chew on and think about in how I approach teaching my kids at home.
My two sons started private Christian preschool at 2 years old but entered the public school system in kindergarten. They had a great experience throughout elementary school and their teachers were amazing. It wasn’t until my oldest son started middle school that I began wondering if there was a different and better way to educate my children. There’s a lot more to our homeschool story and how I came to the decision to pull them out of the public school system about five years ago but I couldn’t possibly write everything here, it wouldn’t fit 😆
I think, as parents, we just have to decide what’s best for our families and what works for our kids in terms of education and it’s not one size fits all. This book isn’t just a criticism of the public school system. It also left me with a lot to chew on and think about in how I approach teaching my kids at home.
lifegivinglearning's review
4.0
I appreciated John Taylor Gatto’s acknowledgment of some of the problems that (at least in his opinion) are inherent in the public school system. (My dad was a public school teacher for over 30 years so some of what Gatto said was not news to me.)
I also appreciated what Gatto said about how the purpose of education is to encourage our children to live vibrant lives rather than to focus on what is considered by our society as successful academics. It encouraged me because every now and then I feel little niggling doubts in the back of my mind. I worry at times that my kids won’t measure up to external standards.
Then I remind myself that one of the big reasons I chose to homeschool is *because* I want more for my children than just meeting academic standards. I wanted a way to help my children live full, abundant, and rich lives.
“Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important: how to live and how to die.” — John Taylor Gatto
As I finished this book, I realized that Gatto put into words the desires of my heart for my children.
I also appreciated what Gatto said about how the purpose of education is to encourage our children to live vibrant lives rather than to focus on what is considered by our society as successful academics. It encouraged me because every now and then I feel little niggling doubts in the back of my mind. I worry at times that my kids won’t measure up to external standards.
Then I remind myself that one of the big reasons I chose to homeschool is *because* I want more for my children than just meeting academic standards. I wanted a way to help my children live full, abundant, and rich lives.
“Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important: how to live and how to die.” — John Taylor Gatto
As I finished this book, I realized that Gatto put into words the desires of my heart for my children.
jyvurentropy's review
3.0
This book was okay. The only reason I’m giving it three stars is because it’s very hyperbolic and pretentious at times. I work in special education, so I’m with him that public education can be a nightmare in a lot of ways, and I agree that the federal government should have less power and the individual communities schools belong in should have more. But then he rages against television and fast food and gets all doom and gloom that everybody in America is a mindless idiot. That’s all a bit much. Couldn’t give it higher than 3 stars, despite agreeing with him on many points.
queeratthelibrary's review
4.0
If you want to understand why my husband and I have chosen to homeschool our children, this book gives some pretty clear and logical explanations. Must read for those considering homeschool and those critical of homeschooling.
pedstrom's review
3.0
Interesting ideas, quick read. If you think of it more as a transcribed speech than as well-thought-through-expose, and you'll be happy with it.
sakusha's review
5.0
A great (and short!) book about why public school does a very poor job of educating children. For anyone who enjoyed this book, I recommend that you read Gatto’s other great book, A Different Kind of Teacher.