What Ivan Illich thinks about education

@ivan-illich · 9 positions

Philosopher and Catholic priest (1926 to 2002) whose Deschooling Society (1971) argued that compulsory schooling confuses teaching with learning and that education should rest on open networks instead.

Ivan Illich did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

Filter education · Newest first

Topic

All 9education 6

Sort

NewestOldest

Only Ivan Illich on education. See everyone on education

6 dated positions, c. 1971, in their own words. Our reading of what Ivan Illich has said — not written or endorsed by them.

1. c. 1971

   Our readingSchools teach poor students to confuse process with substance

   Their wordsMany students, especially those who are poor, intuitively know what the schools do for them. They school them to confuse process and substance.

   ↗Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971)archive.org All 9 from this book

3. c. 1971

   Our readingSchooling teaches pupils to confuse teaching with learning and a diploma with competence

   Their wordsThe pupil is thereby "schooled" to confuse teaching with learning, grade advancement with education, a diploma with competence, and fluency with the ability to say something new.

   ↗Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971)archive.org All 9 from this book

5. c. 1971

   Our readingUniversal education through schooling is not feasible

   Their wordsUniversal education through schooling is not feasible.

   ↗Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971)archive.org All 9 from this book

7. c. 1971

   Our readingSchooling's hidden curriculum teaches that scientific bureaucracies are efficient and benevolent

   Their wordsEverywhere the hidden curriculum of schooling initiates the citizen to the myth that bureaucracies guided by scientific knowledge are efficient and benevolent.

   ↗Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971)archive.org All 9 from this book

9. c. 1971

   Our readingPeople are taught that skills count only if they come from formal schooling

   Their wordsThe public is indoctrinated to believe that skills are valuable and reliable only if they are the result of formal schooling.

   ↗Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971)archive.org All 9 from this book

11. c. 1971

    Our readingEqual educational opportunity is a good goal, but equating it with compulsory schooling is a confusion

    Their wordsEqual educational opportunity is, indeed, both a desirable and a feasible goal, but to equate this with obligatory schooling is to confuse salvation with the Church.

    ↗Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971)archive.org All 9 from this book