Coloring Outside the Lines: Raising a Smarter Kid by Breaking All the Rules

by Roger C. Schank

Book Overview

A myth shattering prescription for raising intellectually engaged, self-starting kids"I am writing this book because I am horrified by what schools are doing to children."So begins this controversial... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060192992
• ISBN13: 9780060192990
• Release Date: July 2000
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Think you've got an open mind?

Think you really know what's best for your kids? Read this book. It certainly isn't the be-all and end-all of wisdom on how we should educate our children, but it's the best work on the subject I've seen yet. To read it, though, you have to put aside everything you ever automatically "knew" about school (for example, that it's a good thing) and really THINK about it. What is the purpose of teaching higher math to a child with no aptitude for it and no chance of using it in her career? Why do teachers always insist that children sit quietly and never speak out of turn? Why do parents assume that school will prepare their child for life in the real world?Roger Schank doesn't accuse teachers of trying to squelch children's interests or administrators of being bad people, but he does point out that the way the school system teaches is completely outdated and unintentionally destroys children's eagerness and passion for learning. To raise a truly intelligent child, Schank says, parents must take charge personally. They must work to undue the damage school does to a child, and to instill positive character traits in a child that will help him develop true intelligence: verbal ability, analytical ability, gumption, inquisitiveness, creativity, and ambition. There are simple (and not-so-simple) ways parents can do this, and Schank dedicates his book to telling us how we can help our children and also WHY we should take charge. He stresses that it isn't easy being a parent and it's even harder parenting a "smarter kid" -- but the goal is a child who knows who she is and finds herself as an adult in a happy and successful situation, doing something she loves and excells at. Isn't that a worthy ambition? Altogether, COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES is an eye-opening look at education in our country and the future of our kids -- well worth the time to read and put into practice.

entertaining but idiosyncratic anti-school screed

Roger Schank hates America's schools, and makes no bones about it. He criticizes attitudes, procedures and policies that were put in place in order to supply unimaginative and obedient drones to industry, and tells parents that if they're able they should homeschool, but if they're unable they should work hard to counteract the destructive effects of a school system that crushes imagination, original thinking and the love of learning.Schank, a pioneer in cognitive psychology and computer learning, introduces the concepts of dynamic memory, case-based reasoning and scripts, and plays up the importance of computer simulations, role play and field trips. He draws heavily -- almost narcissistically -- on examples from his own children and parenting experiences, sometimes detracting from their utility or universality. For instance, he says parents and teenagers should take walks and long bus rides so they can converse. Huh? The author relates the story of how he and his teenage daughter, given the time and isolation of these activities, achieved better communication. What about a car trip? Plane? Blimp? Camping? He thinks kids should run for office, participate in sports and go to summer camp, whether or not they want to. Sometimes he makes the case, but again his examples and reasoning are so self-centered that one wonders how generalizable they are.The author posits that most students do not need to be taught math or literature, but do need history and science that is limited to nutrition, health and reproduction. Here the author does a fine job of forcing you to re-evaluate your assumptions about education, but I didn't always agree with his conclusions. He defines the six traits of smarter kids as verbal proficiency, creativity, analytical ability, gumption, ambition and inquisitiveness, and devotes a chapter to each. He advises parents to expect an "A" only in a student's favorite subject and passing grades in all others, defending their children from teachers who are out to squash their spirit. He dislikes television, encourages literacy as soon as possible, defines learning as expectation failure, and believes experimentation is self-regulating. As you can see, the author is opinionated and a bit eccentric, though I have to say I agree with many of his criticisms and more than a few of his solutions. I do take umbrage at his peevish dismissal of Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences as being too politically correct, making everyone "smart at something" -- as if it's any more bizarre than 'Take Your Teen on a Greyhound Bus' day.Special chapters are included on the benefits of sports; computer-based learning, including how to evaluate software; and the relative benefits and perils of public schools, private schools and homeschooling as well as the difference between research-oriented universities and smaller liberal arts colleges. I thought these special chapters were especially useful.A mixed bag but overall a cohe

Want to raise a child you'll enjoy talking to?

I have two boys (12 & 15), and I say: Parents of toddlers especially, buy this book and watch the results.MY FAVORITE PARTS: when Schank advocates - quiet time for "letting the mind wander" (because it gets the creative juices flowing) - "Talmudic" debates at the dinner table - training your kid to do tough-at-first things, like doing speeches without index cards. Who is the book NOT for? Parents whose kids are numb from TV and Nintendo; whose kids eat with nannies; parents who insist that they always do things "as a family" (as opposed to one-on-one).It's for parents who are themselves imaginative and don't cave easily and who are ready, willing and able to use every available interaction as a learning experience. Your kid will be worldly, sharp as a tack and a better parent when their turn comes.

Read if you want to help your children think for themselves

If you think that the most important thing for kids to learn is to mind their elders you probably WON'T like this book. But if you think that parents' most important educational mission is to help their children develop the skills, motivation, and self-confidence to think for themselves, then this is a really GREAT book to read. Schank is the rare writer who knows how to turn theoretical insights about how the mind works and how people learn into straightforward practical advice. Concerned parents will find valuable advice here. I expect that the many teachers dissatisfied with the status quo will also find much of interest in this book.

Refreshingly straightforward advice

Schank offers very straightforward advice on how to encourage children's natural curiosity for learning, their creativity and inquisitiveness. He's a strong critic of the emphasis so many schools are placing on testing, and "teaching to the test", but he backs up his criticism with empirical data on natural learning and his own experience as a teacher and a parent. His advice is clearly stated and easy to understand. This book provides down-to-earth, practical advice for anyone, parents grandparents, even teachers, interested in helping children become confident and creative.