John Taylor Gatto

“At the pass we’ve come to historically, and after 26 years of teaching, I must conclude that one of the only alternatives on the horizon for most families is to teach their own children at home.”

John Taylor Gatto wrote ‘Dumbing Us Down’ a decade ago. It sold over 150,000 copies and has recently been reprinted with additions as a second edition. I first heard about Gatto in discussions on home ed. email lists. I followed a link and read some of his essays. I’ve not yet read one of John’s books, but I am looking forward to doing so. (more…)

I see her in the supermarket - she checks her watch, the 3pm deadline looms and her child-free hours are almost over. She laments to a comrade about the battle of homework; “Even in year one!” she sighs. She looks across at my children crowded around me. She offers a half-smile of almost-pity. I meet another at swimming lessons. She is watching her three year old. Her “other two” are at school. Mine are a mob aged 11, 9, 8, 6, 3 and 1. I imagine I look like a mother hen juggling goggles and towels. She wonders aloud how I do it? I can only smile. (more…)