Family Matters

An honest, perceptive discussion of children, education, and family-centered learning in our common life as a nation by the bestselling author of Snow Falling on Cedars. A high school English teacher, Guterson and his wife educate their own children at home. "A literate primer for anyone who wants to know more about alternatives to the schools" (Kirkus Reviews). Index.

Drawing on his unique dual perspective as both a public school teacher and a homeschooling parent, Guterson makes a powerful case for the vital role of family in education.

• The Case for Homeschooling: Discover why a veteran high school teacher chose to educate his own three sons at home, and what he learned in the process.
• Child-Centered Education: Learn how to tailor learning to a child’s unique needs, interests, and natural curiosity—an approach that mass institutions struggle to provide.
• Parents as Primary Educators: Guterson argues that parental commitment is the most essential factor in academic performance and that every home can be a powerful center for learning.
• A Vision for Educational Reform: Examine a compelling proposal for how public schools and families can cooperate to create a richer, more flexible, and more effective system for all children.