Educating Your Child in Modern Times: How to Raise an Intelligent, Sovereign & Ethical Human Being

by John Taylor Gatto, Hamza Yusuf, Dorothy L. Sayers

A priceless compilation of essays for parents concerned about their child's education. John Taylor Gatto gives some insights into the 'dumbing down' of America through government schooling; Hamza Yusuf Hanson delves into the traditional and spiritual reasons for an education, Nabila Hanson speaks to the timeless wisdom of delaying formal education, and Dorothy Sayers, sheds some light on what a 'real' education might look like.

Genres: Education, Parenting, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Teaching, Islam, Politics

98 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

John Taylor Gatto is an American retired school teacher of 29 years and 8 months and author of several books on education. He is an activist critical of compulsory schooling and of what he characterizes as the hegemonic nature of discourse on education and the education professions.

Reviews

[Shahid Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Folks who have kids & like to raise eternally curious, playfull, creative and well balanced kids.....this is a must read!

Before practicing the herd mentallity, invest in this lucid book....assured to shake up your thinking.

[Lumumba Shakur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually listened to the lecture from whence this publication was based, but regardless, being my entry into the critique of modern public education, this was an eye opener from me. I appreciated the presentation of Mr. Gatto and like always, Shaykh Hamza knows how to keep the attention of a crowd, while teaching a little something along the way. I recommend this to any and everyone who has any interest in the education of our children. I gave it to a friend who was at the time, just entering his profession as a high school teacher, and it radically changed his perspective. Perhaps I may give it 5 stars when I get my hands on the print version. It would be nice to have a hard copy to refer to.

[splendidus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different view to education and schooling.
The concept of "artificially extended childhood" is very interesting and plausible, and conform with my own observations.

[Eleni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because I've loved everything I've read by John Taylor Gatto. I didn't know, however, that this book consists of four essays, each by a different author, with Gatto's being the first and lengthiest. His essay was something of a summary of his great work The Underground History of American Education, which I've read. Though his and the other three essays were interesting and full of good information, for some reason, though I enjoyed it, I expected more from this book. I would recommend it for someone who hasn't read his other works.

[Farhad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crucial topic that should be of interest to all.
It provides answers to important, yet infrequently asked, questions, such as:

-Why schooling is obligatory. Who created and designed modern schooling institutions and For what purposes.
-What elements genuinely contribute to a wholesome education. Why schooling cannot provide a valuable and necessary education.
-What are the right tools required for learning. The important difference between learning something vs how to learn something. What age should children start learning at.
...

[Miroku Nemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaikh Hamza Yusuf and John Taylor Gatto on education--just the combination of these two incomparable critical thinkers and educators in a text should be enough to make you want to read the book. And when one finds out that Dorothy Sayers was among the group of thinkers around Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, well, those who appreciate education, erudition, and creative illumination should need no further encouragement.

[Muslim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wake-up call, but now that I'm awake I feel I lack the confidence & knowledge to do that which needs to be done which, to be honest, is unsettling. May be I should have just remained in my slumber.

[Anwaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opener!!