Customer Reviews

The Art of Education

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Ten years ago you couldn't find much information written and published on homeschooling much less anyone willing to take a stand against our revered public school system. Low and behold, now comes along a writer and a book who stand head and shoulders above the rest. The writer is Linda Dobson. The book is 'The Art of Education.' This is a powerful book. Don't expect to sit down with it and be entertained. When I finished reading this book I was literally shaking! Right from the start John Taylor Gatto shares his wit and wisdom in the forward. Gatto's comments set the tone for Ms. Dobson's book. Ms. Dobson's book is one whale of a wake up call to our crumbling families and to the lack of education in this country, despite the fact we spend $450 billion a year on our schools. If you value your children you should read this book. It is obvious Ms. Dobson values children and her heart is as big as all outdoors. As the news watch columnist for 'Home Education Magazine' she hears and sees much, if not most, of what is happening out there in education. Her observations and the essence of this book is that many Americans don't know what education is or should be and she's right. Our government monopoly schools are taking us down a path to oblivion and it's high time parents take back their children, their families and their sanity. 'The Art of Education' is very frank writing but the book also gives us hope. In chapter fifteen Ms. Dobson gives us 12 starting points from which to begin our journey of awareness and healing. 'The Art of Education' is a book that should be on everyone's must read list. It's provocative and intelligent. It is sure to shake things up in the education community as well as on the home front. As home educators you regain that wonderful, soothing and spiritual element called 'time.' Time to think. Time to share. Time to heal. Time to be with those you love. Ms. Dobson makes it sound so simple. Well, maybe it is. Maybe that's the beauty of the art of education. Be sure to also read 'The Homeschooling Book of Answers' by Linda Dobson and 'Dumbing Us Down' by John Taylor Gatto

Well I'm still shaking. I picked this book up at a used book seller, its cover torn and the pages well used. I thought it might be an answer to the impass I feel as a first year teacher. The parent in me feels struck by lightening. The earth has moved and I'm wondering where to go next. Ms. Dobson has certainly changed the view of things in my mind. Her argument is remarkable, powerful, stunning.. I'm practically speechless. I've picked up 4 more books on homeschooling just today and spent 12 hours searching the net in the last couple of days. How can I ever thank you? People... please, please read this book! Our children are at stake.

I have just read The Art Of Education for the fourth time. This time with a highlighter. I wish that I would have found it before we finished our home education journey. Linda's manages to light a fire in your mind. As a leader of a statewide support network, I will recommend this to all new home educators as a must read.

Mrs. Dobson is to be commended in hers, and her family's, efforts in putting this book together. Not only did she have a realistic look of our nations school system she had the courage to publish her findings.
Finally, someone who is a "watcher" of what's really going on instead of sitting on the fence partaking with a blinds eye.
Homeschooling families, though different in their own ways, should read this book with an open eye. Understand why they choose to homeschool in the first place. I believe each homeschooling family ought to be commended, but don't stop there understand why choosing to homeschool is a must not only for your immediate family, but for our society as a whole. After all, no one else is!

This book will change the way you view education. It is very informative. It is also easy to read. I learned alot of information from Ms. Dobson that promted me to read more on the subject and gain confidence in my ability to educate my child at home.

I was disappointed that Ms. Dobson spent most of the book complaining about the public school system. She could have made that point effectively in one chapter. There were a few good tidbits in this book but I found the book tiresome to read as she wandered off point frequently. The book seems to be more of summary of her personal complaints about society and less about the specifics of home schooling.