Why use anecdotes?

This text is part of: "I would never send my kids to school" by Piotr Wozniak (2017)

Anecdotes do not substitute for proof. However, they often show interesting examples, or illustrate the roots of reasoning.

In this e-book, I have used a heavy dose of anecdotal evidence. There are anecdotes that may come from lives of great people. It is hardly possible to use science to reproduce cases such as Einstein, Copernicus, or Newton. Anecdotes from lives of such people can provide inspiration that isn't always easy to reaffirm using currently available research.

I also use anecdotes from my own life. I violently disagree with the prevalent form of schooling around the world. Some of my thinking is strongly influenced by my own experience. Very often, it is hard to find good research to back up my theses. I resort to brain science, common sense, and modelling. As modelling is based on generalizations that may be influenced by personal experience, biased assessments may result. This is why I want the reader to know that the origins of my reasoning often come from my own classroom experience. For example, I had many great teachers. I know what made them great for me. I believe I can model those attitudes and generalize. However, a teacher I loved, might have been hated by the rest of my class. My biases might have resulted in the perception of higher universality of my prescriptions.