School Is Bad For Children John Holt Analysis

Education has grown to become a mandatory requirement in not only our culture, but in societies across the globe as well. In John Holt’s essay, “School is Bad for Children” he shares his thoughts on the relationship that children build with the school. Obviously, as one can infer from the title, Holt does not view education as the blessing it is. Not only are his views irrational, they are also completely biased. The manner in which Holt presents his ideas are refutable. John Holt 's essay is erroneous due to his utilization of pronouns, his misuse of the allness fallacy, his inadequate research, and the overall content of the essay. Although his essay has a “cold, rigid” view of the education system, Holt does make a few solid points. Like …show more content…
For instance, Holt uses the allness logical fallacy when he says, “Every teacher knows that any kid in class who, for whatever reason, would rather not be there not only doesn’t learn anything himself but makes it a great deal tougher for anyone else” (74). John Holt gives himself the authority to speak on behalf of all teachers. It is hard to believe that teachers choose this inspiring occupation if they feel like they do not have control or are not making a difference in their own classroom. Another example of Holt utilizing the allness fallacy is when he says, “People remember only what is interesting and useful to them, what helps them make sense of the world, or helps them get along in it. All else they quickly forget, if they ever learn it at all” (76). Again, Holt finds authority to speak on behalf of all “people”. According to Daniel T. Willingham, a psychologist at the University of Virginia, students do retain information after completing their education. He says, “Nevertheless, the contention that we forget most of our education is wrong. Naturally, lessons learned in school are subject to forgetting, like any other experience, but some of what we learn stays with us” (Willingham, 2015). John Holt seem to give himself the power to speak fallaciously on behalf of certain individuals and …show more content…
Holt puts his beliefs higher than everyone else 's. He tells the audience that, “The child soon learns not to ask questions-the teacher isn’t there to satisfy his curiosity” (Holt 73). However, the purpose of an educator is to educate, and a main portion of the traditional learning process is for students to ask questions and for teachers to provide answers when possible. “Instilling students with a strong desire to know or learn something is what every teacher lives for, and research has even shown that curiosity is just as important as intelligence in determining how well students do in school” (Stenger, 2014). Almost every teacher who wants to pursue teaching as a career and who puts forth the effort, is a teacher who honestly cares for their students. Being a teacher is not an easy job. There is so much time and effort put into each lesson plan, each grade, and each project. John Holt criticizes education and teachers, when in reality, it is education and teachers that builds the foundation of our society.
John Holt’s perspective on education is undoubtedly biased. He portrays school as a prison where children’s curiosity and innovation is consequently lost. Holt also brands teachers as incapable, unloving beings. However, due to his inadequate research, Holt fails to validate his opinions. Holt also gives himself the prideful authority to speak on behalf of certain groups and