Children Quote by John Holt
“Schools assume that children are not interested in learning and are not much good at it, that they will not learn unless made to, that they cannot learn unless shown how, and that the way to make them learn is to divide up the prescribed material into a sequence of tiny tasks to be mastered one at a time, each with it's approrpriate 'morsel' and 'shock.' And when this method doesn't work, the schools assume there is something wrong with the children...something they must try to diagnose and treat.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “How Children Learn” by John Holt, 1976
The quote critiques schools for assuming children lack interest and ability, using fragmented tasks, and blaming children when methods fail.
In simple terms: Schools often misinterpret children's learning needs, using overly broken tasks and blaming students.
Key Takeaway
Adopt holistic, child‑centered teaching.
Themes
education reform
child development
learning theory
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- classroom design
- curriculum planning
- teacher training
- parent‑teacher collaboration
Key Concepts
constructivism
intrinsic motivation
assessment practices
Questions to Reflect On
- How can educators foster intrinsic motivation?
- What alternatives to task fragmentation exist?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched systems is challenging.
![“Some who support [more] coercive strategies assume that children will run wild if they are not controlled. However, the children for whom this is true typically turn out to be those accustomed to being controlled— those who are not trusted, given explanations, encouraged to think for themselves…” quote by Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8de/alfie-kohn-7728_assuming_some-who-support-more-coercive-strategie_1697882.jpg)
