Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

One of the best books I read on the reasons why the educational system is failing so dramatically.It has been many years and I still remember its key points, I took to heart some of the things that impacted me the most. I recommend it to anybody who wishes to get a historical overview on the origins of schooling and who wants to understand why some things are the way they are.

An eye opener for those who are just starting on this journey of staying informed and educated.

Consiglio a tutti gli insegnanti di ogni genere! Splendido e rivoluzionario! Ci mai potrà accettare un simile cambiamento non solo della scuola , ma della intera società. ..

My mom bought this book for me a couple years ago. I finally pulled it out of a box and remembered I had it! If only I had read it sooner! Then I would have known sooner that I'm NOT crazy! While it is true that Gatto spends some time speaking of His credentials and those of His colleagues, I believe that is one thing that helps give this book a better standing. He has seen it from inside the "zoo." I can also see how some of what He says may also apply to private schools as well as public. I grew up going to a private school and although it was not a bad school, it certainly had it's share of bullies and poor teachers. I remember ONE teacher that really made a POSITIVE difference to me. My first teacher was lousy. I can remember her lying to my parents about how well I was doing in math. I still struggle with math since I did not have a good foundation. Now, fast forward several years and I'm grown up. My husband and I have two children. I am on the school board of that same private school and my kids went to it for one year. Although it is much larger now. I believe the quality of the school and the teachers at this time are great. Although, the year that my kids were in it really frustrated me. My son was on the honor roll for much of that time. My daughter wanted to spend her time socializing INSTEAD of working. My sons teacher at the time stated that He was struggling with math and it was suggested that I put Him in a "special" math class this year. My son had been getting almost all A's! Don't get me wrong-I really love the people at the school and it is true they all have Masters degrees and credentials. I only have a GED and a few college credits. Many of their arguments to get me to keep the kids in- helped cement the plan to keep them out. Our kids don't need to be in school for 7 hours and another 2 hours doing homework. Now, I am homeschooling our children again. Our son and daughter are doing very well. They can get more work done at home in the morning then they did all day at school. WE get to pick and choose their curriculum AND extracurricular activities. We choose the hours they work best. Busy boy and girl can take bathroom breaks when they need to and low blood sugar isn't a problem with the kitchen close by. Both of our children socialize several times a week at their art, sewing and gymnastic classes and on the weekend they enjoy church and enjoy church socials. All of these keep them plenty busy. Math and English etc they do well in. Reading? They read books that many high schoolers have a hard time reading! We skipped preschool. It wasn't necessary. Many people have told me how they enjoy being around them-our kids have not suffered. They are excelling! So if anyone else out there chooses to homeschool and is concerned you can do it- YES YOU CAN! Schools are NOT necessary for a good education. Credentials or not, you can do it! Allow your children to have an education AND a childhood! Love this book!

John Taylor Gatto's analysis of government schooling as being a form of controlling and suppressing the masses is spot on.I decided to home educate my kids because I didn't want school to get in the way of their education. Schools don't actually serve individuals very well at all....all they do is provide a steady supply of compliant, conformist, disempowered clone worker consumerists. They do not nurture individuality, critical thinking, love and compassion, but instead cause divisions by creating a kind of caste system where every child quickly learns their place in the pyramid, only to rise to the top by trampling on others and surrendering to rules designed to persecute anyone who deviates from conformity and obedience to the system.If you think kids should be allowed to grow up and learn in a way that is free from any political agenda, and that the purpose of education is surely not just to raise little conformist consumers to keep the economic machine marching on, then this book is for you. Schools really aren't doing the job they are supposed to do, so maybe it's time we took things into our own hands and those of the children themselves. Kids are often way too smart for school and being held back by idiotic policies and beaurocracy and so on. Search your feelings - you know it's true!