Who is John Holt?
John Holt (1923-1985) was a teacher and controversial education writer who advocated school reform and ultimately became one of the forces behind the homeschooling movement of the 70’s and 80’s. He wrote ten books about education and founded the magazine Growing Without Schooling. John Holt’s books Instead of Education: Ways to Help People do Things Better, How Children Learn and How Children Fail are still popular among parents and people seeking a self-directed education. Although John Holt’s work primarily discusses children, the overall message can be applied to learners of all ages. If you want to cultivate your ability to learn deeply and effectively, you’ll definitely want to see what he has to say. John Holt’s Educational Philosophy While John Holt’s books, interviews, and magazine articles are extensive, several themes stand out: • Formal schooling often destroys the natural love of learning • Extrinsic rewards are ultimately harmful to learners • People learn the best from re
