Ivan Illich
Austrian-born philosopher and priest (1926 to 2002); author of Deschooling Society (1971).
Ivan Illich did not write this page. ppll compiled it from their own words, each linked to the source. Is this you? · Report a mistake
What they believe
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Schools teach poor students to confuse process with substance
Many students, especially those who are poor, intuitively know what the schools do for them. They school them to confuse process and substance.
archive.orgSaid c. 1971This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 9 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
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Schools teach poor students to confuse process with substance
Many 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) Said c. 1971
Schooling teaches pupils to confuse teaching with learning and a diploma with competence
The 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) Said c. 1971
Universal education through schooling is not feasible
Universal education through schooling is not feasible.
Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971) Said c. 1971
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Most learning comes from taking part in a meaningful setting, not from instruction
Most learning is not the result of instruction. It is rather the result of unhampered participation in a meaningful setting.
Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971) Said c. 1971
Most learning, even intentional learning, happens casually rather than through programmed instruction
Most learning happens casually, and even most intentional learning is not the result of programmed instruction.
Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971) Said c. 1971
School is an advertising agency for society as it is
School is the advertising agency which makes you believe that you need the society as it is.
Deschooling Society (Harper & Row, 1971) Said c. 1971
Schooling's hidden curriculum teaches that scientific bureaucracies are efficient and benevolent
Everywhere 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) Said c. 1971
People are taught that skills count only if they come from formal schooling
The 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) Said c. 1971
Equal educational opportunity is a good goal, but equating it with compulsory schooling is a confusion
Equal 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) Said c. 1971
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