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Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self Discovery Review by Jennifer Pepito
By David H. Alberthttp://www.skylarksings.com/
As a home educator, I occasionally go through a bout of insecurity, wondering whether the "professionals" could do a better job of teaching my children. At the end of one such struggle, I came upon a book that was like a shot of inspiration. Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self Discovery by David H. Albert was just the antidote to self-doubt for me as a homeschooler.
This collection of essays by the editor and publisher of some of John Taylor Gatto's compelling books on education has plenty to say about learning himself. By the time I was a third of the way through the book, I was completely reassured about the superior education my children were receiving. This is the kind of book one could give to a doubting parent or grandparent, easy to read, yet intellectually stimulating.
David Albert presents a watertight case for keeping your kids home. His viewpoint is not so much from a protectionist stance, more simply because he believes institutionalized learning is counterproductive to raising thinking children. He includes many shocking quotes from some of the founders of public education about their desire to raise a compliant work force, their belief in eugenics, and their simplification and perversion of history.
I sped through the book, highlighter in hand, and felt the weight of others' expectations and my own brainwashing peel off me like an old snakeskin. The book not only addresses education, it is also a work of philosophy, bringing up some good points about how our culture is geared toward making us feel inferior if we don't own that nicer car or better dish soap. The author's theology may not match an evangelical Christian's (he is a Quaker, surmised from references), and his schooling style may not be the path for everyone. However, this book, as an exposé on the deleterious effects of our educational system and an encouragement in recognizing our children as unique and special, is completely worthwhile. This book ranks in the top five of my favorite books on education, and one I would highly recommend.
