Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

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!

This is a collection of speeches and essays by John Taylor Gatto, who is in my view one of the most original and honest educational philosophers of the last 200 years.He was an extremely successful teacher in the New York City school system - was "Teacher of the Year" - but he quit because he just could not inflict that torture on any more children.Mr Gatto has "been there, done that." He speaks of what he knows, and he does it with devastating candor and humor.To those who support and defend the "status quo," good luck as you try to deal with the case he makes against the institutionalized education system debacle.This is a paradigm-changing book. Beware: it will change you; for the better, I believe.I loved this book, and I embrace the challenges that Mr Gatto throws out at me.Freedom, freedom, freedom - do you truly believe in it? Read this book and see.You can find some of Mr Gatto's talks on youtube. He is superb on his feet - you will love him or hate him, but you will not be bored.

Oh this book! It certainly opens your eyes to the flaws in the teaching system. It's written by a teacher in New York but a lot of it still applies to the UK as our Western school systems are actually very similar. Made me want to homeschool my kids actually. You kind of get the sense that this teacher is very disheartened by the school system; he knows he has no control in his job and it's only getting worse, yet he continues because he knows the kids need him and he certainly does his best. It's a series of essays he's written about the system and how fake it is. The first essay was excellent and refreshing and easy to read, but the further the book went on, it got a bit same-y and dare I say...a bit boring? Still, I encourage you to read it if you want to find out from the inside how it really is to be a teacher in our failing school system.

I think this is a good starting block for anybody who has children or is a guardian. I felt the information in this book will cause a spark to encourage readers to do more research into why our children are getting taught certain material & why certain procedures have been implemented at a time where the mind is very receptive & open to be conditioned, all this to later on mould the vulnerable minds, staining them with characteristics that will benefit those who are in power & blindly giving them more of what they want.... MORE POWERIts based in the US, however, if you have been to school in the UK, you will see how things have filtered down & are still applicable to the curriculum over in England.That said, the book itself is ok. However in terms of the message that John Taylor Gatto is trying to get across & the obvious significance of the references in the book. I feel like it just made the 4star mark since it opens doors to further amplify your understanding.

I am not going to sum up the book in a couple of paragraphs; you better read it yourself. I have read many books much better written than this, but not every book is capable of making you reconsider so many things that you have always taken for granted, and that is what makes this book special. Even though you do not agree with all its arguments, you will find it hard to refute many of them, and in doing so, you are likely to end up with enough questions to start doubting yourself and the entire education system. The book is barely a hundred pages, and the crucial ones are only a fraction of the book, but those few pages are enough to set your doubts and reflections in motion. I, for one, have already considered home schooling my daughter just after reading this book. If you are curious, read it and then decide by yourself. If you do not read it, you may never know what you missed.

I cannot stress how important it is to read this book. If you are a parent, this is an absolute MUST. As Gatto - an award-winning ex-teacher - explains, the state "education" system is not intended to actually provide children with an education. It is just there to fill your children's heads with propaganda, and to train them as obedient, order-following drones with little critical thinking abilities.This may seem far-fetched to those not in the know, but this book will help you to understand what I am talking about.

The other reviewers covers the important bits so I won't repeat them. I found it interesting that Gatto mentions the "new-world-order" agenda to take kids and nuture in them a need to see the state as thier parents, and how this type of mass schooling drives a wedge in the fabric of society. A small book but needs to be read slowly to get what gatto is saying - his experience and insight shines through and needs to be heeded.

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!

More than any other book about homeschooling, this one -- about the public school system -- has been the most influential among parents who decide to homeschool their kids.