Though I have lived most of my life with educationalists…
““Though I have lived most of my life with educationalists, I have little interest in educa¬ tion. I dislike schools, both for boys and girls. A child between the ages of eight and eighteen, the normal school years, is too young to form a collective opinion, children only set up foolish savage taboos. I dislike also all plans for “developing a child’s mind ”, and all conscious forms of personal influence of the younger by the elder. Let children early speak at least three foreign languages, let them browse freely in a good library, see all they can of the first-rate in nature, art, and literature—above all, give them a chance of knowing what science and scientific method means, and then leave them to sink or swim. Above all things, do not cultivate in them a taste for literature.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Advocates minimal adult influence on children, urging freedom, multilingual exposure, and scientific curiosity while rejecting imposed literary taste.
In simple terms: Children should explore freely, learn science, and avoid forced cultural norms.
Key Takeaway
Allow children independent learning and curiosity.
Themes
education
freedom
child development
literature
science
Mood
reflective
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- home schooling
- library programs
- language immersion
- field trips
- science clubs
Key Concepts
autonomy
critical thinking
experiential learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance freedom with necessary guidance?
- What role should literature play in early education?
A Different Perspective
Children may lack guidance without any structure.