Biography

John Adcock graduated from London University reading sociology and gained a higher degree from Leicester University for research into the teaching of English Literature; from that followed his series of five books, English through Literature (Rupert Hart-Davis, 1964-67).

John taught in primary, secondary and higher education in Britain and abroad for 30 years before establishing New Education Press (NEP) in 1984 - publishing 45 NEP titles over the next 10 years.

He is concerned today about the detrimental effects our century-old school system can have on children and the opportunities for liberating change that are being missed, so that his work is focussed now on promoting an alternative, non-school based system which would employ professional personal tutors.

His two books, In Place of Schools (New Education Press, 1994), and Teaching Tomorrow (Education Now, 2000), offer drastic yet plausible alternatives to Britain’s current approach to children’s learning.

His new book, a satirical novel, Vote for Terry Park! The Common Sense Man (Deacon & Roberts, 2009), takes that theme further by arguing that the necessary and radical changes in children’s education made possible in the 21st century are dependent on equally drastic changes being made in society as whole.                         

Vote for Terry Park!  The Common Sense Man by John Adcock
Deacon & Roberts (ISBN 978-0-9564061-0-1) 
Price: £7.99

Terry Park, divorced schoolteacher, ever-hopeful novelist, independent parliamentary candidate, wants his new Common Sense Party to decry political correctness and win voters’ support by advocating common sense government.

He befriends an attractive but strong-willed university lecturer, Susan Mansfield, whose research demands the replacement of Britain’s outdated schools with family supporting, personalised tutoring and, while Terry sees more than friendship in their relationship, she does not.

Although in its politics the story is radical, confrontational and thought provoking, in its development it is humorous and its description of a hidebound nation in need of widespread social change will ruffle feathers.