Customer Reviews

How Like an Angel Came I Down: Conversations With Children on the Gospels

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This is less a review than a comment on the way amazon has cross-referenced this book. It is not a "religious" book in the standard sense, but rather an amazing document from the annals of nineteenth-century reform. Bronson Alcott was Louisa May Alcott's father and an incurable romantic. He believed in the innate divinity (as opp. to depravity) of children and founded one of the first progressive kindergartens in America. I recommend this book to anyone interested in educational reform or American romanticism.

Here is how Bronson Alcott introduced his students to the art of learning through conversation: "I do not know all that I am going to say, for I shall have new thoughts, that I had not had before. Still less do you know all you are going to say; for you have not thought so much of the subject as I have. But if we all will think, and all will say what we think, not repeating the words and thoughts of others, we shall teach each other."
These conversations with children between the ages of 6 and 12 were recorded by the amazing Elizabeth Peabody (who introduced English speakers to the writings of the Buddhist community). Any teacher who guides by asking questions, who understands the power of conversation for eliciting new and bold ideas, and who has confidence in childrens' abilities to think for themselves will love this book. Any teacher who does not do those things will learn from this book. It is a wonderful experience.
Dave Throgmorton

On a recent visit to schools in India, where teaching is still done by rote (learning your lesson by heart), I spoke of these amazing conversations in which a teacher inspires his pupils to grow in wisdom by teaching him. Alcott's method could be applied today, but it takes confidence to teach without wanting to impose one's views and values.