"Esolen signals with this book his presence in the top rank of authors of cultural criticism." --"American Spectator"
Play dates, soccer practice, day care, political correctness, drudgery without facts, television, video games, constant supervision, endless distractions: these and other insidious trends in child rearing and education are now the hallmarks of childhood. As author Anthony Esolen demonstrates in this elegantly written, often wickedly funny book, almost everything we are doing to children now constricts their imaginations, usually to serve the ulterior motives of the constrictors.
"Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child" takes square aim at these accelerating trends, in a bitingly witty style reminiscent of C. S. Lewis, while offering parents--and children--hopeful alternatives. Esolen shows how imagination is snuffed out at practically every turn: in the rearing of children almost exclusively indoors; in the flattening of love to sex education, and sex education to prurience and hygiene; in the loss of traditional childhood games; in the refusal to allow children to organize themselves into teams; in the effacing of the glorious differences between the sexes; in the dismissal of the power of memory, which creates the worst of all possible worlds in school--drudgery without even the merit of imparting facts; in the strict separation of the child's world from the adult's; and in the denial of the transcendent, which places a low ceiling on the child's developing spirit and mind.
But Esolen doesn't stop at pointing out the problem; he offers clear solutions as well. With charming stories from his own boyhood and an assist from the master authors and thinkers of the Western tradition, "Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child" is a welcome respite from the overwhelming banality of contemporary culture. Interwoven throughout this indispensable guide to child rearing is a rich tapestry of the literature, music, art, and thought that once enriched the lives of American children.
"Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child" confronts contemporary trends in parenting and schooling by reclaiming lost traditions. This practical, insightful book is essential reading for any parent who cares about the paltry thing that childhood has become, and who wants to give a child something beyond the dull drone of today's culture.
Biographical Note:
Anthony Esolen is the author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization" and "Ironies of Faith" and the translator and editor of the celebrated three-volume Modern Library edition of Dante's "Divine Comedy." He is a professor of English at Providence College and a senior editor of "Touchstone" magazine. Esolen lives in Rhode Island with his family.
272 pages Index Bibliography (an excellent reading list for homeschooled students or anyone who wants to be well educated)
ISBN: 1610170792 EAN: 9781610170796
Carolyn's Comments: This book is a must read for every parent and grandparent whether homeschooling or not. Although not about homeschooling specifically, it is an amazing and insightful book about learning - what it is and what it isn't. This book will make you think seriously about the education and lifestyle choices you make for your children. Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child should be at the top of your reading list!
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