On of the most influential thinkers in the realm of alternative education is John Taylor Gatto. Dumbing us down, a book about the effects of conventional schooling, has been very influential for a lot of parents considering home education. His ideas about the form which mainstream education might take, are outlined in A different kind of teacher. His Underground History of American Education is fascinating and thought-provoking. There is a wealth of information and media on the internet by and about John Taylor Gatto, which I plan to gather here.