--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To a very great degree, school is a place…" description: "\"To a very great degree, school is a place where children learn to be stupid.\" — John Holt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/john-holt-14171_children_to-a-very-great-degree-school-is-a-place_1557557.jpg" --- # To a very great degree, school is a place where children… ![“To a very great degree, school is a place where children learn to be stupid.” quote by John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/john-holt-14171_children_to-a-very-great-degree-school-is-a-place_1557557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/john-holt-14171_children_to-a-very-great-degree-school-is-a-place_1557557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/john-holt-14171_children_to-a-very-great-degree-school-is-a-place_1557557.jpg) > “To a very great degree, school is a place where children learn to be stupid.” [John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. School often teaches children to accept information without questioning, fostering a kind of intellectual complacency. **In simple terms:** School can encourage uncritical learning. Key Takeaway Promote critical thinking in education. Themes education critical thinking learning methods Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - classroom discussions - project‑based learning - self‑directed study Key Concepts pedagogy intellectual autonomy curriculum design Questions to Reflect On - How can students question authority constructively? - What alternatives foster curiosity? A Different Perspective Standardized testing may resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [Too stupid to learn and too stupid to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-stupid-to-learn-and-too-stupid-to-give-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In this world there isn't a single person from whom you cannot learn anything even from, a stupid you can learn how to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubhanshu-tiwari/in-this-world-there-isn-t-a-single-person-from-whom-you-cannot-learn/) [Shubhanshu Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubhanshu-tiwari/) > [“We should have known much more than our ancestors. 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