Two Quotes For Parents About School

 Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 2:27PM

Two Quotes For Parents About School

H. L. Mencken in The American Mercury in 1924 wrote that “The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all; it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to down dissent and originality.”

 

In “Against School,” Gatto in 2003 tells his readers what he sees as the cure for the situation of today’s schools. He would like to see parents counteract the effect of the schools by teaching their children 1) to be leaders and adventurers, 2) to think critically and independently, 3) to have a well-developed inner thought life, 4) to spend time alone learning to enjoy their own company, and 5) to interact with adult-level books and materials in a wide range of subjects covering the Liberal Arts and Sciences."

 

Mencken, H. L. (1924). The goslings: A study of the American schools. In RALPH: The review of arts, literature, philosophy and the humanities (par. 7) [Book Review]. Retrieved from http://www.ralphmag.org/menckenI.html

Gatto, J. T. (2003, September). Against school: How public education cripples our kids, and why [Article from Harper’s]. Retrieved from http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/ website: http://www.spinninglobe.net/againstschool.htm

Both quotes are cited in "Are All Homeschooling Methods Created Equal?"