The Underground History of American Education

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It's a hit!

A critical look at American public schooling. There is actually quite a lot of discussion points w/in the book, its hard to summarize them in a rev... (show more)

A critical look at American public schooling. There is actually quite a lot of discussion points w/in the book, its hard to summarize them in a review. But if you think there's nothing wrong w/public schooling, give the book a try. And if you think something is wrong, it will help to define some of those issues. I think he reaches a bit in some instances, but mostly, seems dead on.

Its amazing to think of the money wasted, yet education level drops year by year. Now, the guy in charge of federal education is mulling the idea of longer school years. Uh, that won't fix a broken system. Forced public schooling is barely 100 years old. Yet, I think this country did pretty good for itself w/o it.

The major thing I have against the book, the author doesn't claim to try to prove anything, you have to trust that the research he's done is accurate, b/c he doesn't reference much.

A major question asked in the book - why does the average American have no clue how forced public schooling came to be? What is the agenda? This includes teachers. Yet, we give our kids to this institution for 20+ years. No competition, no analysis of worth, its basically assumed its all working ok. I'm one who believes our kids deserve better. (show less)

 

 

by Andy Wiesendanger

No, it's a flop!

In some ways I regret reading this book. I regret reading it because it made me feel helpless about the current state of education (and the history... (show more)

In some ways I regret reading this book. I regret reading it because it made me feel helpless about the current state of education (and the history of how it came to be, if the authors facts are accurate). The author did not do a good job of citing references and so it was difficult to differentiate between a rant and a fact of history (or herstory). What was his interpretation and what really happened? Either way, it made me question a lot of things and want to dig deeper into who I am and the path schooling took me on to get me to where I am today. (show less)

 

 

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  This book has radically altered the way I look at virtually everything, though it also reinforced many other things I already believed.

  This book is a liberating peek behind the curtain at the man pulling the strings and throwing the levers; a man we're told doesn't exist, belief in whom is universally derided as paranoia and the province of conspiracy theorists, something made to sound vaguely ominous and crazy such to frighten away the masses, by those in positions of power and control... (show more)

  This book has radically altered the way I look at virtually everything, though it also reinforced many other things I already believed.

  This book is a liberating peek behind the curtain at the man pulling the strings and throwing the levers; a man we're told doesn't exist, belief in whom is universally derided as paranoia and the province of conspiracy theorists, something made to sound vaguely ominous and crazy such to frighten away the masses, by those in positions of power and control.

  But once you've peeked, you'll never look at anything int he same way again...EVER.

  When investigating how things really work, don't EVER let anyone say, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" I could entirely see that happening, given what so many stakeholders have to lose should the lid be blown completely off their scam the way this book does on every single one of its pages. READ THIS BOOK!

  Now for the criticism. Gatto didn't have the firmest grasp on what Christianity was all about at all. His description of it as presented over 2 to 3 pages or so is significantly at odds with the real McCoy. (show less)

   

  by Matthew Rothchild on Apr 21, 2009 at 09:29PM

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  I came across John Gatto in an essay he wrote for Harper's. Several years later that essay sticks with me and I recently searched the library to find other works by him. John Gatto is an award winning teacher with deep criticism of our current public education system. His assessment is down right scary and some of his solutions are down right radical if not right. Gatto reinforces the role of education as oppose to schooling and abhors the bell. A great read for teachers who hate to "tea... (show more)

  I came across John Gatto in an essay he wrote for Harper's. Several years later that essay sticks with me and I recently searched the library to find other works by him. John Gatto is an award winning teacher with deep criticism of our current public education system. His assessment is down right scary and some of his solutions are down right radical if not right. Gatto reinforces the role of education as oppose to schooling and abhors the bell. A great read for teachers who hate to "teach for the test," disagree with NCLB and wonder if there's a teacher who thinks like them. If we had educators that adapted just 10% of Gatto's solutions, then our kids would be just a little more educated and a little less schooled. (show less)

   

   

  by John Frederick on Oct 14, 2009 at 08:43PM

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