Must Read Books for Educators : Part I

What really amazed me when I came across some of the works of educationalists of past was that some of them were really ahead of their times and their works actually contain useful insights to find solutions to current education crisis. The sad part is there have been lot of talks, most of these books have become best sellers but not enough has happened on the grounds. Anyway, I hope these books will be useful for all educational leaders and revolutionaries. Here are first three recommendations : -

1.) Instead of Education : John Holt

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My favorite part of this book is the difference which author makes between "Schools" and "schools" , "Teachers" and "teachers" and how beautifully uses these terms to convince us of uselessness of "schools" and the need of "Schools".

Here is a quote from the book :-

"Next to the right to life itself, the most fundamental of all human rights is the right to control our own minds and thoughts. That means, the right to decide for ourselves how we will explore the world around us, think about our own and other persons' experiences, and find and make the meaning of our own lives. Whoever takes that right away from us, as the educators do, attacks the very center of our being and does us a most profound and lasting injury. "

"In this book, I find myself speaking to minority of people who believe that children (like other people) will live better, learn more , and grow more able to cope with the world if they are not constantly bribed, wheedled, bullied, threatened, humiliated and hurt..."

"Today what "education" has become, I am wholly against it. People all around talk about how to reform or humanize it (education).....but to make it more effective and efficient will be to make it worse, and to help it do even more harm. It cannot be performed, carried out more wisely or humanely because the purpose itself is neither wise nor humane."

 

 





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2.) Deschooling Society : Ivan Illich



Ivan Illich's hair raising comparison of schools to churches and schooling to being baptized is what I loved about this book. He presented a convincing case which some of us might find exaggerated but undeniable. He was an insider of Church in his early life and hence the insights he brings in comparing education and religion are truly shocking. A small but a powerful book, must read !

His argument on "Why we must de-establish schools ?" provides a really critical view of our education system. Here are few quotes :-

"Many student know what schools does to them. They confuse them to process and substance...The pupil is therefore schooled to confuse teaching with learning, graded environment with education, a diploma with competency and fluency with ability to say something new. His imagination is "schooled" to accept service in place of value"

" Schools have failed.....the exhaustion and pollution of earth's resources is above all, the result of corruption of man's self image.."

"Everywhere the hidden curriculum of schooling initiates the citizen to the myth that bureaucracies guided by scientific knowledge are efficient and benevolent. Everywhere this same curriculum instills in the pupil the myth that increased production will provide a better life. And everywhere it develops the habit of self-defeating consumption of services and alienating production, the tolerance for institutional dependence, and the recognition of institutional rankings. The hidden curriculum of school does all this in spite of contrary efforts undertaken by teachers and no matter what ideology prevails."




3.) Summerhill School : A new view of Childhood by A.S. Neill

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A.S. Neill established Summerhill School and this book summarizes his journey. Summerhill school is usually refered as "Free School" and it lead to establishment of many other so called "free schools". This is our misfortune !

Shouldn't every single school be "free school" , a place where student get first taste of freedom, where learning takes place in a free rather than a controlled environment. As it turns out , we are all afraid of giving freedom to our kids. In this fantastic book, the author proves how freedom can transform the entire process of learning and education.

" A free child is a happy child...Function of a child is to live his own life - not the life his anxious parents think he should live.."

" This has been my experience at Summerhill.....There are no problem child - only problem teachers and problem parents. "

" When we trust children, we give them freedom which is their right and they deserve - they feel responsible for their actions, for their learning and for their life. ...There can be no respect when their is no freedom."

" We have to make a school fit the child not child fit the school."

"Obviously, a school that makes active children sit at desks studying mostly useless subjects is a bad school. It is a good school only for those who believe in such a school, for those uncreative citizens who want docile, uncreative children who will fit into a civilization whose standard of success is money."

 

Enjoy Reading and feel free to share your thoughts with me ,I'd be happy to discuss !