Customer Reviews

Escape from Childhood

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is my favorite book of the many Holt has written. It does not cover any aspects of learning/educational issues as do his other books. Instead it addresses the matter of looking at children as whole individuals who should be treated respectably, as any adult would want to be.

Our culture too readily encourages parents, and adults in general, to use their voice in a excessively authorative manner which only serves to bully and demean children. No one would want to be spoken to or treated in such a condensending manner. This book will open your eyes to the damage we are doing to our beloved kids when we accept the cultural standard way of parenting. Highly recommended!

When I first heard of John Holt I was given a quotation and a comment. The quotation was from 'Escape from Childhood' page 1: "I propose...that the rights, privileges, duties of adult citizens be made available to any young person, of whatever age, who wants to make use of them." The accompanying comment was that Holt's work can be taken as a charter for paedophiles. I disagree. Unless I missed something fundamental I found Holt a progressive thinker who argued for the removal of the taboos which led young peole into sexual ignorance and often tragic experimentation. He was ahead of his time. Nowadays we're all aware of the importance of sexual education for the young. Twenty years ago such thinking was anathemna to many, though not Mr Holt. More generally this book is a first class discussion of rights and responsibilities, and it will offer anyone a useful light with which they can explore this academic minefield further. For Holt the escape from childhood is as much about acknowledging the responsibilities of the young as it is about acknowledging their rights. As he says, "If we gave up our vested interest in children's dependency and incompetence - would they not much more quickly become independent and competent? We ought to give it a try." He could be right. The 190 (out of 192) countries who have signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child should all listen up and read.

Most discussion of what passes as "children's rights" today seems to fall into two categories. One is what I think of as the bare minimum of rights: the child's right not to be beaten or molested. The second uses the term as a euphemisim for parental rights: who gets them in a custody battle and when the state is justified in revoking them. Holt's thoughtful book is revolutionary because it does not fall into one of these categories. Instead Holt argues that children are not the property of their parents or the state, that they are human in their own right, and that they deserve all of the rights adult citizens already have. In the first few chapters Holt examines the current state of childhood in the West. In the second half of the book he details specific social, economic, political, and educational rights he argues children should have, and suggests how society might have to change to accomodate these rights.

On the whole, Holt presents an argument profoundly sensitive to the plight of children without ever letting himself or his readers descend into sentimentality. My criticisms of the work, were I to list them, would be mostly technical in nature. With post-Columbine hysteria steadily turning schools more and more prison-like and innovations like the V-chip and Internet filters increasing in popularity, _Escape_ is just as relevant today as it was in 1974, if not more so. It's shameful that books like this are so difficult to find and so often out of print.

The New York Times called this book "astonishly cogent," and I agree. This is one of the most insightful and thought-provoking books I've ever read. Sadly, 30 years later almost nothing has changed. While the ACLU fights for the voting rights of convicted felons, a 17-year-old "child," no matter how sensible or informed, cannot cast a ballot in the United States. Millions of children are shipped off to school every day, where they are mostly taught to do as they're told (no matter how arbitrary or pointless) and above all, conform--lessons which will serve them all too well for decades to come. The transparency of Holt's writing should also be an example to authors everywhere. It is a tragedy that this book is out of print, and Holt no longer with us. The world desperately needs more like him.

When I first heard of John Holt I was given a quotation and a comment. The quotation was from 'Escape from Childhood' page 1: "I propose...that the rights, privileges, duties of adult citizens be made available to any young person, of whatever age, who wants to make use of them." The accompanying comment was that Holt's work can be taken as a charter for paedophiles. I disagree. Unless I missed something fundamental I found Holt a progressive thinker who argued for the removal of the taboos which led young peole into sexual ignorance and often tragic experimentation. He was ahead of his time. Nowadays we're all aware of the importance of sexual education for the young. Twenty years ago such thinking was anathemna to many, though not Mr Holt. More generally this book is a first class discussion of rights and responsibilities, and it will offer anyone a useful light with which they can explore this academic minefield further. For Holt the escape from childhood is as much about acknowledging the responsibilities of the young as it is about acknowledging their rights. As he says, "If we gave up our vested interest in children's dependency and incompetence - would they not much more quickly become independent and competent? We ought to give it a try." He could be right. The 190 (out of 192) countries who have signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child should all listen up and read.

Without even noticing it, we diminish children in somany ways. Holt perceptively points out these ways, and offerspractical ways to treat children more respectfully.

More than twenty years after I first discovered it, I still consider this one of the most influential books I've ever read. It opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on civil liberties and the nature of the social contract.

Holt writes from a stance that is patient and methodical, understanding that his ideas will seem radical to many readers. His thesis is informed by a detailed understanding of history, of law, and of cognitive development. It's an approach that sheds light not only onto the lives and rights of children, but far beyond.

One of his central points is that if we imagine ourselves a free and democratic society, then we depend on citizens being informed and responsible and having a genuine understanding of the concept of individual liberty. If we deny people the opportunity to develop these sensibilities during their formative years, however -- if we treat them as beings without rights of their own, who must be obedient to the dictates of others -- then we cannot reasonably expect them suddenly to acquire the mental framework they need at the age of 18. We create for ourselves a hobbled citizenry, and we all suffer the result.

Young people have been sheltered and fenced in to ever-increasing degrees over the last few decades in America. The distressing resurgence of authoritarian attitudes in American government in recent years, and the remarkably widespread public acceptance of same, should not be seen as an unrelated phenomenon.

When it comes to childrens rights this wonderful being is right on target! I love all of his books! Very eye opening! I love his overall love of children. I totally understand and feel where he's coming from with all of his subjects! I feel the same way myself. I parent my children according to who they are as individuals and respect them from a standpoint that alot will never understand! I'm raising them to be strong and independant and never allow anyone to tell them who "they should be"! Allowing them space to grow and never forcing them to do anything they're not ready for! But giving them plenty of opportunity to learn and progress at their own pace! And support their stregnths and weaknesses because without mistakes we dont learn! Love him very much! Very good! The best i've ever read!:)

A longtime teacher Holt cared very much for the children he taught. He had a clear sense of how they were oppressed at home and in the school- system. He was especially appalled by the way children were subjected to fear and punishment tactics.
His aim was to provide children with autonomy and respect, to truly empower them against the forces he felt were oppressing them.
All this sounds sensible enough except if one takes a look at some of Holt's specific recommendations. Here he seems to go completely off the wall in empowering children before they are ready for it, and in depriving parents of their proper place in raising children.
One example is his idea that children should be allowed to vote. He says that even twelve year olds should be allowed to vote and that eventually even children much younger than this should be given the vote. This is obviously absurd as children cannot possibly have the knowledge, and understanding required to be responsibe voters. Holt does not seem to understand that empowering children at too young an age, before they are right for would also be a form of oppression.
This book is an example of something which frequently happens. Wrongs are seen but the corrective measures introduced are not balanced, and do harm also.
The more moderate Holt of the earlier books made more sense.

I heard this quote in reference to the book, and then read this quote from another reviewer: The quotation was from 'Escape from Childhood' page 1: "I propose...that the rights, privileges, duties of adult citizens be made available to any young person, of whatever age, who wants to make use of them."

My review of the book is based entirely on that quote, as from my point of view, utter common sense says that, while maybe well-meaning, this statement verges on the totally unbelievable.

I was a flight instructor. Students are taught theory and practical lessons. Eventually, at my discretion, the student is allowed to fly solo. I may not have been a perfect instructor, but my goal was to equip my students with enough knowledge and practical experience to not only survive, but to fly with competence. I as the instructor determine when the student is ready to fly solo, not the other way around. Do you understand what disaster awaits the eager student that decides to hop in the plane and take off alone without the instructor being ready to release them?

Utter disaster. Please. Debate the various approaches to parenting, but do not be fooled for a moment that maybe the role of "parent" has little, if any use, and that kids should be treated as adults. If you find yourself with this point of view, I recommend reading the book, "Escape from Insanity".

(I clicked on 1 out of 5 stars, with the understanding that "1" means "the absolute worst" with 5 stars being the best.)