Pedagogy relies on more than mere exposure to information. To a substantial degree, information central to an education has been reasonably readily available s

Pedagogy relies on more than mere exposure to information. To a substantial degree, information central to an education has been reasonably readily available since the early 20th century, a combination printing, cheap paper, and public libraries. Not entirely as convenient as online Internet access, to be sure, but a low barrier for a motivated student. There are notable examples of self-taught prodigies[1] ... ... but overall, organised, school-based education seems to scale vastly better. Teachers don't merely expose but guide, at least in the best cases. ________________________________ Notes: 1. One was, I believe, William Sidis, who'd taken refuge in a public library after being bullied, read Russell & Whitehead's Principia Mathematica, and corresponded with Russell over errata and corrections. I'm trying to turn up a reference, possibly The Prodigy: A Biography of William James Sidis, America's Greatest Child Prodigy by Amy Wallace.