He is the author of a different kind of teacher, the exhausted school, dumbing us down. Deliberate dumbing down of america charlotte iserbyt. Dumbing us down youve articulated in a most profound way the problems we are all observing in our students and children. Having seen things firsthand, gatto is in a position to understand just how bad americas public schools are. Part four in a series of short videos based on john taylor gattos book, the underground history of american education. There have only been two books this year that upon finishing i was so impressed and blown away by that i felt the desire to reopen immediately and read again. This speech is the first chapter of dumbing us down. Weapons of mass instruction, and the underground history of american education, having sold over 200,000 copies, and cocreator of the epic 5hour dvd interview, the ultimate history lesson. John taylor gatto was born in monongahela, pennsylvania, a river town thirtyfive miles southeast of pittsburgh where his grandfather, harry taylor zimmer, was the town printer in the days when printers still honored their descent from peter zenger. The author of several popular books, including dumbing us down and his newest work, the underground history of american education, gatto is is heavy demand as a speaker to groups ranging from principals associations to software companies to homeschool conferences. The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling and it is honest, insightful, and scathing. This radical treatise on public education has been a bestseller for 10 years.
Apr 12, 2016 john taylor gatto is a critic of americas public school system who comes from an interesting perspective, as he taught in new york citys public schools for over 30 years. In his acceptance speeches, however, he has repudiated schools as dehumanizing prisons. Sep 24, 2016 dumbing us down, by john taylor gatto dumbing us down is written by a teacher who has been honored by the public school system for his contributions as a teacher. Dumbing us down by john taylor gatto mother mother.
He devoted much of his energy to his teaching career, then, following his resignation, authored several books on modern education, criticizing its ideology, history, and consequences. Aug 14, 2014 dumbing us down by john taylor gatto 1. John taylor gatto was new york state teacher of the year prior to resigning from teaching because he didnt want to do any more harm to children. This interview also includes solutions, documents, and references. A schoolteachers journey through the dark world of compulsory schooling, the underground history of american education. Oct 29, 20 part four in a series of short videos based on john taylor gatto s book, the underground history of american education. John taylor gatto, author dumbing us down and weapons of mass instruction a wide ranging discussion on the problems with the american education system, or as gatto clarifies compulsory schooling, which is not the same as education. After 26 years of teaching in the new york public schools, john taylor gatto has seen a lot. Solving the crisis of american schooling by john taylor gatto 20020404 01jan1840. Praise for dumbing us down youve articulated in a most profound way the problems we are all observing in our students and children. Sampling many of his best personal essays, dumbing us down features the true reasons why education in our modern day system is failing. Cynthia brown, editor, the international educator, west bridgwater ma im still baffled by how someone so forthright.
Gatto with adding the expression dumbing us down to the school debate worldwide. The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling by john taylor gatto online at alibris. My own 18yearold commented that you clearly know whats going on. John taylor gatto, age 65, walks with a slight limp. The logic of the schoolmind is that it is better to leave school with a tool kit of superficial jargon derived from economics, sociology, natural science and so on than to leave with one genuine enthusiasm. The origin and evil of compulsory schooling lewrockwell.
The book opens with a chapter called the sevenlesson schoolteacher, in which he. Jan 26, 2012 against school john taylor gatto a 2003 article by john taylor gatto, a retired school teacher, on the us education system, its history and reasons for being. Praise for dumbing us down youve articulated in a most profound way the problems we are all observing in our students and. Cynthia brown, editor, the international educator, west bridgwater ma. Dumbing us down the hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling by john taylor gatto is a masterly an indepth view into how public schooling really works. Interview with john taylor gatto practical homeschooling. John taylor gatto, upon winning the award for teacher of the year after 30 years in the classroom, delivered a speech that was so shocking that the reverberation is still being felt today.
Over the winter holiday break, i read john taylor gattos dumbing us down. Dumbing us down by john taylor gatto january 16, 2016 john taylor gatto may be one of the most fascinating educators i have ever read or heard of, even if i question some of his solutions to problems associated with teaching and learning. He is best known for the underground classic dumbing us down. A highly praised bestseller for over a decade, dumbing us down is a radical treatise on public education that concludes that compulsory government schooling does. The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling isbn 086571231x is a book by teacher john taylor gatto. John taylor gatto dumbing us down pdf thirty years of teaching in the public school system led john taylor gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory governmental schooling is to blame.
Apr 05, 2012 with john taylor gatto, richard andrew grove. Apr 26, 2016 he is the author of a different kind of teacher, the exhausted school, dumbing us down. We disagree with some elements of his perspective, which are elaborated on in the comments below. In chapter 1 he lists the seven things schools and teachers, including himself. John taylor gatto is a critic of americas public school system who comes from an interesting perspective, as he taught in new york citys public schools for over 30 years. Xiv over the years, i have come to see that whatever i thought i was doing as a teacher, most of what i actually was doing was teaching an invisible curriculum that reinforced the mythos of the school institution my emphasis.
Lewis and now this here little gem dumbing us down. John taylor gatto education revolution alternative. Dec 09, 2010 notes from dumbing us down by john taylor gatto posted on december 9, 2010 by caterina fake when the bell rings i insist they drop whatever it is we have been doing and proceed quickly to the next work station. An advocate for school reform, gattos books include dumbing us down. He taught for 30 years in public schools before resigning on the oped pages of the wall street journal during the year he was named new york states official teacher of the year. The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling, the underground history of american education and weapons of mass instruction. In his typical fashion, he said, pick up the ball and roll it fast toward the center of those pins. Dumbing us down no irony intended by john taylor gatto p. But quality in education entails learning about something in depth.
Review of gattos dumbing us down, chapter 2 gently. Dumbing us down, by john taylor gatto dumbing us down is written by a teacher who has been honored by the public school system for his contributions as a teacher. Former new york city and new york state school teacher of the year, john taylor gatto, illustrates how and why our public schools are dumbing us down. Hes the kind of man who can spot a potential learner from a distance and go into action. If john taylor gatto were introducing his book to us, hed do us the favor of introducing himself first. On april 3, 2008, the kennedy school of government at harvard credited mr. John taylor gatto the purpose of schooling truth versus disinformation. Homeschooling and the curriculum of play by john taylor gatto. John attended public schools in swissvale, monongahela, and uniontown, and the private catholic boarding school in latrobe, all towns in western.
Oct 04, 2014 dumbing us down by john taylor gatto 1. The world according to gatto education week teacher. The book proposes that radical change is needed to the american educational system to turn around the negative socialization that children receive. Gatto taught for 26 years in new york city public schools, a number of these years in harlem and. His book,dumbing us down, is a treatise against what he believes to be the destructive nature of schooling. Dumbing us down is a short book by john taylor gatto. Im using this space to record a few thoughts and notes from the book, as i dont have the time or mental energy to pull together a. When i was in my forties, he taught me how to bowl at his local bowling alley. Let me begin by characterizing where im coming from. John taylor gatto personal solutions, family solutions. His book, dumbing us down, is a treatise against what he believes to be the destructive nature of schooling. John taylor gatto former practical homeschooling columnist. A school teachers intimate investigation into the problem of modern schooling, and dumbing us down.
Jan 19, 2016 over the winter holiday break, i read john taylor gatto s dumbing us down. He is the author of the bestselling dumbing us down. A 2003 article by john taylor gatto, a retired school teacher, on the us education system, its history and reasons for being. The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling, i must offer first of all a few words on the author himself. Former nyc and new york state school teacher of the year john taylor gatto illustrates how and why our public schools are dumbing us down and what we can do about it. John taylor gatto former columnist for practical homeschooling magazine a former new york state teacher of the year, john taylor gatto created a sensation when he quit his decadeslong teaching career via an essay printed in the wall street journal entitled, i quit, i think. Weapons of mass instruction by john taylor gatto 20100104 04jan2010. John taylor gatto the purpose of schooling truth versus. John taylor gatto i dont think well get rid of schools any time soon, certainly not in my lifetime, but if were going to change whats rapidly becoming a disaster of ignorance, we need to realize that the school institution schools very well, though it does not educate. John taylor gatto s new york city teacher of the year acceptance speech, january 31, 1990. Everything you know is wrong about schooling school was intended, on this continent, to be as it had been in northern germany, a fifth column into. John taylor gatto born december 15, 1935 is an american author and former school teacher who taught in the classroom for nearly 30 years. For that reason alone, dumbing us down is an intriguing book.
The ultimate history lesson is a 5hour journey examining the history, rootcauses, and consequences of public schooling. Excerpts from dumbing us down, 1992, by john taylor gatto. The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling paperback 15apr1992. Thirty years of awardwinning teaching in new york citys public schools led john gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory governmental schooling does little but teach young people to follow orders as cogs in the industrial machine. John taylor gatto wrote this article for the wall street journal, july 25th, 1991. Personal solutions, family solutions by john taylor gatto if you have no time for your family you want to ask yourself, why must i always be doing something. Notes from dumbing us down by john taylor gatto posted on december 9, 2010 by caterina fake when the bell rings i insist they drop whatever it is we have been doing and proceed quickly to the next work station. In celebration of the tenyear anniversary of dumbing us down and to keep this.
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