The purpose and origins of public education - John Gatto

Gatto is a 30 year veteran of the government educational system and multi-award winner for teaching excellence (New York City Teacher-of-the-Year, New York State Teacher-of-the-Year). This is an excerpt from Gatto's outstanding speech "Beyond Schooling". High school was only a minor part of American society until the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. In the wealthy nation of Switzerland, in modern times less than 1 in 4 kids go beyond elementary school. Do Americans really need forced education? If you look at the roots of American education, you'll find that it was based on the Prussian system which had the goal of collectivizing and socializing dependence on the state for the purpose of creating an obedient population. It's safe to say those Prussian roots have taken root in the USA.
photo by Ann Zeise http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/052800.htm

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[optionsupdate]

what is the best way to teach children mathematics?

[evmazu]

@optionsupdate Haven't tried it myself but have heard great things about the Robinson Curriculum K-12 homeschool program: robinsoncurriculum dott com

[evmazu]

It seems it was done in Canada but I don't know when. Google "John Taylor Gatto - Beyond Schooling" and you should be able to find the entire recording (it seems to already be on youtube)

[mamabritts]

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[tanrat7]

In the richest country in europe, 1 in 4 kids goes beyond elementary school. that is poignant!

[greg0rius]

@forthepieinthesky

I'm sorry but your response would have more credibility if you could actually write using proper vocabulary and grammar.

[forthepieinthesky]

i mean schools great but to force sum1 to do sumthing like go to school....i just see it as unnecessary. and to force people to serve the elite. i mean i cud just go on but i just feel so tired this whole systems jus draining me....sumthings gotta be dun i think. seems like it

[forthepieinthesky]

more blood has been shed in the 20ths and 21st century than all the other combined i think its sumthing like tht or more than the last 5 or sumthing, anyways seems like bloodshed goes up as does compulsory schooling

[forthepieinthesky]

relliii....wowww i wudda never guessed tht war and school had anything in common at all....jeeeeee are they relli connected?????wuda never guessed (rolling eyes)

[ion010101]

On the other hand, if dumbness doesn't exist in high numbers, how were the utopians and authoritarians able to sucker everyone into letting the state raise their kids? Read, "Animal Farm". The farm animals will end up being exploited no matter what you do because they're not smart enough, on average, to avoid it. Dumbness doesn't exist in high enough numbers to warrant forced schooling, but dumbness exists in high enough numbers to institute forced schooling.

[researchologist]

@evmazu It's actually not a true curriculum in the sense you assume. All the cd's are actually scanned in and copied pages of many many books. There has been some advances in the function and lesson plans in the last few years. But for the program to work the first thing you have to do is REMOVE all sugar & tv from your home. Change your child's diet and sleeping patterns. No Kidding! I've homeschooled for over 20 years and purchased this curriculum about 10 years ago. No math is included.