Amazon.com info for 'How Children Fail (Classics in Child Development)'

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Back to reviews and details of How Children Fail (Classics in Child Development)

Amazon.com reviews:

Rating: 4 Summary: Insightful
Comment Having studied education and seen first hand the detrimental affect teacher-centered classes have on a child's potential, I have to say it's refreshing to read a THINKING person's view on pedagogy in the 20th century. Sadly, I'm not sure we've improved much in the close to 50 years since this book/journal was written. Though the journal thoughts in the first part of the book show the direction Holt's thinking is leaning, the section on "Real Learning" is where the real gems are to be found. In fact, it has spurred me on to purchase "How Children Learn" as my preference is to approach education positively and constructively. This is a definite classic and I think new educators as well as old should be encouraged to read it and use to rethink their approach to teaching.

Rating: 5 Summary: A real eye opener
Comment Another exceptionally good book from John Holt. A real eye opener and an insight into the ways little knowledge on the part of the educator and negative learning atmosphere could really mess up a person for life. Almost 20 years out of school and I am still afraid of anything math. I could definitely recognize myself in his descriptions of children and the tricks they use to "get the right answer". This book is an easy read as well. I borrowed it from the library and as soon as it was finished, I bought most of his other books right away. Very highly recommended book and author.

Rating: 5 Summary: invaluable insight
Comment All the years I've been "against" public school, they were for reasons I'd researched, or came from my own bad experiences and those of my child, and other reasons I just "felt" inside but couldn't explain... I'd certainly built a case for myself as to what was wrong with the whole environment. But I still had never seen or imagined what Mr Holt saw through the eyes of a teacher (yet I could relate it to my entire experience at public school and knew he was speaking the truth). As I read his book it just filled in so many of the vague holes I'd felt as to why I didn't like public school but couldn't explain why. What invaluable insight into what really goes on! It was truly a turning point in my resolve to homeschool. I wish I'd read this years earlier.

Rating: 3 Summary: Informative but.....
Comment After spending a year volunteering weekly in my sons class and then reading this book I found that what the author observed was exactly what I too saw in the classroom. If you've never spent alot of time in a classroom you would find many things in this book hard to believe. The sad truth of the matter is that it's all true. This book provides a wonderful insight into the classroom, but it is hard to get through. This is the sort of book that will put you to sleep if you aren't fully alert, but if you can get through it you will be glad you did.

Rating: 4 Summary: I prefer his later work
Comment This book is one of John Holt's earliest published works. At this stage he still thinks that schools are essentially very good (and very necessary) institutions with a few things wrong with them that it is quite possible to fix. Later he becomes disillusioned with that notion, and begins to advocate alternative schools. Eventually he realizes that the very nature of schooling and the assumptions it is built upon go against some of his most dearly held ideals, and he begins to advocate 'unschooling,' starting the publication "Growing Without Schooling" and the organization Holt Associates.

I think that this book is a valuable read if you want to understand the evolution of Holt's thoughts about education, but I would also recommend you take a look at his later works. Personally, I'm a big fan of "Teach Your Own."