Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by John Taylor Gatto

Quote by John Taylor Gatto

“It only takes about 50 contact hours to transmit basic literacy and math skills well enough that kids can be self-teachers from then on. The cry for 'basic skills' practice is a smokescreen behind which schools pre-empt the time of children for twelve years and teach them the six lessons I've just taught you.”

Quote by John Taylor Gatto

Create image

Author

John Taylor Gatto
John Taylor Gatto

John Taylor Gatto is an American author known for his critical analysis of the educational system. Born on December 15, 1935, he is a former public school teacher who gained national attention for refusing to comply with bureaucratic regulations in education. Gatto's work emphasizes the importance of educational freedom and personal responsibility. more

You May Also Like

“When we believe in our child fully, we trust that they are doing the very best they can at every moment, given their age, past experience and present circumstances. It is this kind of trust that I mean when I talk about parenting being on their child's side. Having someone dependably 'on their side' is absolutely critical if a child is to grow into adulthood with a generous capacity for love and trust. If we aren't on their side, who will be?”

IfsBelieveKindMeanChildrenMomentsAgePastGivenGrowsSidesCircumstancesCapacityOur ChildrenCriticalGenerousAdulthoodPast ExperiencesLove And Trust
Author:Jan Hunt
Create image

“Two questions help us see why we are unlikely to get what we want by using punishment... The first question is: What do I want this person to do that's different from what he or she is currently doing? If we ask only this first question, punishment may seem effective because the threat or exercise of punitive force may well influence the person's behavior. However, with the second question, it becomes evident that punishment isn't likely to work: What do I want this person's reasons to be for doing what I'm asking?”

IfsWantFirstsWellsMayPersonsTwoDifferentReasonHelpingSeemsAsksForceInfluenceExerciseBehaviorAskingThreatPunishmentEvidentUnlikely
Author:Marshall B. Rosenberg
Create image

“Teach your children to listen carefully and to speak thoughtfully. The best way to teach this is to listen carefully and speak thoughtfully to your children, from the time they are babies. Take their questions and ideas seriously... learning to speak and listen as if our words matter is fundamental to education. Dialogue is not the same as mindless chatter. Above all, listen, listen, and listen to your kids.”

IfsWayChildrenIdeasMatterKidsSpeakTeachBabyOur ChildrenFundamentalsBest WayDialogueYour ChildrenOur WordsMindlessChatterWords Matter
Author:Grace Llewellyn
Create image

“Children should have the joy of living in far lands, in other persons, in other times - a delightful double existence; and this joy they will find, for the most part, in their story books. Their lessons, too, history and geography, should cultivate their conceptive powers. If the children do not live in the times of his history lesson, be not at home in the climate his geography book describes, why, these lessons will fail of their purpose.”

IfsShouldChildrenPersonsBookStoriesHomeJoyPurposeExistenceFailingLandLessonsShould HaveClimateDelightfulGeographyJoy Of LivingStory Book
Author:Charlotte Mason
Create image