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If you're wondering why schools don't seem to get better despite the investment of time and money, it's possible that you're just not aware of what the purpose of the school is, and why that is often the antithesis of what most folks commonly believe the purpose should be. This book discusses the specific philosophies, and throws in some anecdote from the author. It id not technically one continuous writing, but a collection of essays/speeches that the author gave over a period of time and after his 30 years in the education system. It makes controversial claims in that if you believe that the way we should educate children is by trusting "professionals" so that your life and time can be freed up to do other things, the stark reality of what is actually going on in school will require you to re-evaluate your priorities, and the "people" you get on the other end of the 12 years (minimum) will be conditioned to be anything but fully human. This is a necessary read, though if you've dug into the problems with schooling the content may not surprise you in anything but how it is presented and connected. It won't shock and amaze folks except those who had innocent trust in the system which was supposed to have been functioning for over a century.Read full review
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This book makes an excellent introduction for anyone who is involved in education in any way. It lets the cat out of the bag on why school reform doesn't work. - Find your own way out! "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free"
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Gatto is a thirty year veteran of the New York public school system. In this work he articulately and passionately analyses the origins of our national insanity; it is our compulsory education system. Our “public schooling” is without coherence or logic; these institutions have become prisons for the minds, bodies, and souls of both students and teachers. Home schooling families will find this book inspiring. Every page will bring an increased determination to take responsibility for guiding their children to become independent and capable; to be life-long learners. If five percent of parents, teachers, and law makers read this book, there would be a revolution in this country.
Essential reading for any parent considering entrusting their children's education to a government approved school, public or private. Thought provoking, informative, and extremely upsetting to those of us who are/were "educators" in the system, by exposing how, albeit unwittingly, we processed thousands of kids through our system, and accomplished the mission of Dumbing Them Down. One of the best parts for me was that education, when considered as an art, is less like painting (where material is applied to a blank canvas to produce a beautiful image) and more like sculpture (where excess material is removed to reveal the beauty that is already inside the piece of granite)
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is one of those books that provide insights into what is really happening under the surface. Such insights allow us to make better decisions through greater knowledge. Nothing could be more valuable.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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