The Aptitude Myth: How an Ancient Belief Came to Undermine Children's Learning Today

I want you to know how impressed I am with The Aptitude Myth. The review of the history which led to the current state of American education was comprehensive in scope and extremely well written. The assertions in the concluding chapter present a clear challenge for both educators and parents to rethink the way children learn and to restructure learning environments to ensure children achieve the “mastery” of critical skills and knowledge which this book articulates so well. Cornelius Grove has authored an important book that all educators should read, and I have highly recommended it to many of those I worked with before my retirement. I congratulate Grove on writing such a valuable book for all who are interested in making real change in education today.

What are our goals in educating children, and what is the nature of human learning? Americans typically answer these questions in ways that differ from the answers given in other nations. In The Aptitude Myth, Cornelius Grove reveals that ancient Greece was the source of key underlying themes in American education, and traces these down through European and American history into the early 20th century. He then proposes alternative ways of thinking about children and learning. Addressed to parents and educators, The Aptitude Myth offers a fascinating panorama, and will challenge the thinking of all who are interested in education.