About John Holt

John Holt (1923–1985) was an American educator and author whose radical ideas challenged the foundations of conventional schooling. A key figure in the unschooling movement, Holt rejected the authoritative structure of traditional education, arguing that children learn best when guided by their own curiosity rather than coerced by rigid systems. His writings and teachings reshaped how many parents and educators view learning, emphasizing trust in a child’s innate desire to explore and understand the world.

John Holt’s journey into education was unconventional. After graduating from Yale University with a degree in industrial engineering and serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he stumbled into teaching almost by accident in the 1950s. He began his career at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School, a private high school in Carbondate, Colorado, from 1953 to 1957, where he taught high school subjects. Dissatisfied with the school’s approach, he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1957 to teach at Shady Hill School, a private elementary and middle school.

There, and later at the Lesley Ellis School, he taught elementary school students, including fifth graders, and observed their natural learning processes firsthand. These experiences inspired his first book, How Children Fail (1964), a groundbreaking critique of how schools stifle learning through fear, boredom, and artificial rewards like grades. The book argued that children’s failures were not due to a lack of ability but to an environment that crushed their natural enthusiasm.

Over time, John Holt’s philosophy evolved from reforming schools to questioning their necessity altogether. In the 1970s, after years of advocating for change within the system and growing disillusioned with its resistance, he became a vocal proponent of “unschooling”—a term he helped popularize. Unlike traditional educators who saw learning as a structured process imposed from above, Holt believed it was a lifelong, self-directed journey. He argued that children thrive when free to pursue their interests through play, reading, or real-world experiences rather than being confined to a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

His later works, such as How Children Learn (1967) and Instead of Education (1976), reinforced this vision, offering practical insights for parents and educators willing to abandon conventional methods. In 1977, he launched Growing Without Schooling, the first magazine dedicated to homeschooling and unschooling, creating a community for like-minded families at a time when such ideas were considered fringe.

John Holt’s approach stood in stark contrast to the educational norms of his era, which prioritized conformity and measurable outcomes over individual growth. He saw education not as preparation for a predetermined future but as an organic process of living and learning in the present. A lifelong learner himself—passionate about music, mathematics, and languages—Holt modeled the curiosity he championed, often connecting with children as a collaborator rather than an authority figure.

His belief that “learning is not the product of teaching, but the product of the activity of learners” remains a cornerstone of the unschooling movement. Though he died of cancer in 1985, Holt’s legacy endures in the growing acceptance of alternative education models, inspiring generations to rethink how children can grow into confident, capable adults outside traditional schooling.

You’ll find quotes Playvolution HQ has collected from John Holt’s books here.

Here’s raw footage of a long form interview with Holt:

John Holt was an advocate of homeschooling, unschooling, and Growing Without Schools. You’ll find videos on this topic here.

Holt authored many books and articles; you can see many of them here.

Contribute content to Playvolution HQ
Brought to you by Explorations Early Learning

Browse Trainings