I don't know WHY a certain friend had to get me even more riled up about homeschooling by encouraging me to read Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling. The author of the book, John Taylor Gatto, taught public school for 30 years and was recognized several times as New York State's Teacher of the Year.
So much of Dumbing Us Down rings true, that I cannot even begin to comment on all of Gatto's observations about what schools really teach. Just about every page left me wanting to scream "Yes! Preach on!"
This book ranks up there with my two favorite books on education, How Children Learn and How Children Fail by John Holt. (Holt was also a successful public school teacher if that tells you anything). It also ranks up there with those books my former Class Favorite, Most Friendly, Captain of the Football Team, Mr. GHS, Student Body President, Honor Student husband (no I am not exaggerating) would like to keep from me, lest he have to listen to me rant for days about the ills of public school.
I was once firmly on the path of sending my child to public school, so I don't judge those of you who make that choice. But the three books I've mentioned are "must reads", in my opinion, even if you do send your child to public school. If you are not aware of the downsides of institutionalized learning, how can you counteract those effects?
We've been busy lately and I have not had much time to post, but in the following weeks I hope to talk more about homeschooling laws, standardized testing, pre-school and the dreaded S-word (socialization). I also want to share photos and info on what we've been doing. As always, I welcome your questions on comments and I am as willing as ever to tackle the difficult (or slightly hostile) ones.
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3 comments:
oh, boy! I'm so glad to hear Dumbing us Down has you as worked up as I am. My husband and I have considered buying copies to hand out at the school bus stop down the street. And to think we bought the house we are in partly so our children would be close enough to bike or walk to school! NEVER could I do that to them knowing what I know now!!
"a certain friend"
Make sure you also read Gatto's Underground History of American Education, which can be found in its entirety online. It will forever disabuse you of the notion that we as a society should have a compulsory schooling system, and that we just have some problems now and need to homeschool until they are over.
Thanks David! I'll add that to my reading list.
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