And for the last few decades, this phrase reflects a painful reality; today's Americans are in serious intellectual trouble. $24.99. The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America is also a book for my children, grandchildren, and greatgrand- children. Hardcover. AJ teaches you chapter 1. Another book I highly recommend to every parent. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling. To see what your friends thought of this book, parents, children, and anyone who cares about education. Gatto is really a brilliant writer. (An 1850's 5th grade math textbook would today be considered college level). I will try to recap my brilliance. This guy really hits the nail on the head. Strong words from the New York State Teacher of the Year! I didn't expect to fall in love with this book, but I also didn't expect to be so put off by it. ― John Taylor Gatto, Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling. More choices, more freedoms, more time with children home, more time for children to be children, allowing them to learn HOW to think, not WHAT to think. Posted in Effortless English Show, Reading, Uncategorized. The process is described in John Taylor Gatto's classic book, "Dumbing Us Down, The Hidden Curriculum" While the schools claim to be educating, the seven lessons teach quite the opposite. Sampling many of his best personal essays, Dumbing Us Down features the true reasons why education in our modern day system is failing: because it’s meant to be that way. Posted in Effortless English Show, Reading. homeschoolers and teachers, After reading this book I was reassured that homeschooling my children was the best answer. By ordering the course I hereby agree to your terms and conditions. Interesting ideas, if a bit idealistic. Gatto definitely goes for emotion over logical explanation. (At least at the high school level) What he is not not good at is showing the whole picture. He made a critical analysis of state education and described the system as comprehensive, informal, historical, and philosophical. When I first got this book it followed me everywhere until I had finished it, even into the bath. Start learning English with Power English. The last chapter, did focus on religion, which made me a little uneasy. Dumbing Us Down – The Hidden Curriculum Of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto is a masterly an in-depth view into how public schooling really works. The process is described in John Taylor Gatto's classic book, "Dumbing Us Down, The Hidden Curriculum" While the schools claim to be educating, the seven lessons teach quite the opposite. Having seen things firsthand, Gatto is in a position to understand just how bad America’s public schools are. Gatto asserts the following regarding what school does to children in Dumbing Us Down: He also draws a contrast between communities and “networks,” with the former being healthy, and schools being examples of the latter. My biggest problem with this book is, being a series of essays, it's a bit repetitive. What a great read. I enjoyed this book so much. Then a black frock dressed proud lady came, to give him ' perfection classes'. September 30, 2018. This book isn't a 400-page long reasoned argument explaining, point by point in a level tone, why public schools are corrupt and what system we need instead. Although teachers to care and do work very, very hard, the institution is psychopathic -- it has no conscience. Dumbing Us Down – The Hidden Curriculum Of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto is a masterly an in-depth view into how public schooling really works. Hannah Lapp is a freelance writer who lives in Cassadaga, New York. Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (ISBN 086571231X) is a non-fiction book written by American teacher John Taylor Gatto. Such a policy would help us to maintain standards against dumbing down, whatever its origin. John wrote several lectures which disclosed a significant conclusion which encouraged splitting institutional schools and removing certification from teaching. It presents an incoherent ensemble of information that the child needs to memorize to stay in school. A green fish saw him and said : courage, you are beautiful, as you are with all the imperfections.you can do anything. Not Everyone gets awakened to our own unique discoveries. I’ve read plenty of great books this year already however when it comes to identifying certain books as essential and must reads for everyone, that is more rare. “I think what you’re seeing is the dumbing down of America for three generations, you’re seeing left-wing indoctrination and literally groupthink,” he said. Dumbing us down is a short book by John Taylor Gatto. Refresh and try again. When I finally found time, I read this in one sitting. AND I'm going to have to check it out of the library (if only my teacher's salary allowed more room in the budget for more book purchases!) Dumbing us down is priceless. That is the only reason I finished it. And for the last few decades, this phrase reflects a painful reality; today's Americans are in serious intellectual trouble. This is a great mystery to me because thousands of humane, caring people work in schools as teachers and aides and administrators, but the abstract logic of the institution overwhelms their individual contributions. Thirty years in New York City's public schools led John Gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory schooling does little but teach young people to follow orders like cogs in an industrial machine. Our entire country has been locked down by a cadre of “experts” who, no doubt, have PhD’s from some glamorous university somewhere in the halls of Holy Academia. Dumbing Us Down The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (Book) : Gatto, John Taylor : This radical treatise on public education has been a New Society Publishers' bestseller for 10 years! I found much relatable to my own experience and ideas. Dumbing Us Down The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (Book) : Gatto, John Taylor : This radical treatise on public education has been a New Society Publishers' bestseller for 10 years! Wow, this read really had me questioning our educational system. Alas! (Like maybe we're not bright enough to follow along with typical 12 point print?). Although undoubtedly Libertarian in thesis I think there is something for everyone within the pages of this book if you give it a chance, regardless of your political affiliations. I would dare say they are lessons no parent would wish their children to "learn". The book has sold over 150,000 copies and consists of a multitude of speeches given by the author. In his book, Dumbing us Down, John Gatto urged parents to control the education of their children. Millennials are ill-informed, say late-night comedians. He couldn't talk, walk, create pictures ,sleep , brush perfectly. So people are going to shut him out without stopping to look for the reasons behind his emotions. This was an excellent book written by a NY teacher of the year who taught for 26 years in the "government controlled monopoly school system". This will make your head spin. Reading Dumbing Us Down with an inquisitive mind is a whale of a learning experience, and it doesn’t take long to do. The following are illustrative examples. His fear departed. I am truly moved in ways that are uncomfortable. Before reading this I had al. Written by a man that taught in the monopoly called public school system, won awards for it, and lists what he taught; Excellent. This work typically focuses on the president’s State of the Union addresses. As I have been saying for some time now, the education system ultimately serves to program and brainwash young people to fit into the corporate employment agenda, treating kids like cogs in the wheels rather than as individuals with individual needs. I didn't expect to fall in love with this book, but I also didn't expect to be so put off by it. Informative and fast read! “Sixty-five years ago Bertrand Russell…saw that mass schooling in the United States had a profoundly anti-democratic intent, that it was a scheme to artificially deliver national unity by eliminating human variation and by eliminating the forge that produces variation: the family. AND I'm going to have to check it out of the library. A for effort, A for anecdote. There have only been two books this year that upon finishing I was so impressed and blown away by that I felt the desire to reopen immediately and read again. The author is a teacher, and writes why he feels the school system is failing our children and our family. “Trust us”, they say. Dumbing Us Down The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (Book) : Gatto, John Taylor : Gatto reveals the deadening heart of compulsory state schooling: assumptions and structures that stamp out the self-knowledge, curiosity, concentration, and solitude essential to learning. Sampling many of his best personal essays, Dumbing Us Down features the true reasons why education in our modern day system is failing: because it’s meant to be that way. They are as follows: 1. What I found within the pages of. by New Society Publishers, Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling. The truth is that schools don't really teach anything except how to obey orders. Gingrich called that a product of the “dumbing down” of the country through three generations of indoctrination and groupthink in America’s education system. That's not to say Gatto's ideas aren't reasonable. Like it happens sometimes, he also fell in a day of mistakes. When I finally found time, I read this in one sitting. If John Taylor Gatto were introducing his book to us, he’d do us the favor of introducing himself first. He mentions things that had happened in the past, as far back as the time of Plato. Some qualifiers for this year are as follows, there are three. For such a short book, there's a hell of a lot of repetition in it. 1. Do not read this book unless you are prepared to feel extremely uncomfortable with the statues quo of the educational system in this country. Confusion. Though only five chapters and 95 pages, Gatto forcefully makes his claim that America’s … Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. ― John Taylor Gatto, Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling. Interesting to learn that the literacy rate in colonial America was close to total, and hasnt been that high since just before the Civil War when compulsory schooling (government monopoly schooling) began. This is often done to achieve communication goals by sacrificing accuracy, honesty or integrity. But, if anybody is to know the real intention of America's schools it is this man, with over 30 years of public school teaching, and a fair shake of rule breaking to see what his students were really capable of. Interesting to learn that the literacy rate in colonial America was close to total, and hasnt been that high since just before the Civil Wa. Charlotte Iserbyt has put her great exposé, The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America, on the Internet so that anyone can now read it and download it free of charge. Limited Time Offer! It rings a bell and the young man in the middle of writing a poem must close his notebook and move to a different cell where he must memorize that humans and monkeys derive from a common ancestor.”. Gatto,J. While worth reading as an wake up call to all who think the only problem with our educational system is that it needs more money it should be taken with a grain of salt, or rather a slat block. europarl.europa.eu. Dumbing Us Down 25 Juni 2019 25 Juni 2019 nindaseptyarini The aim of totalitarian education has never been to instill convictions, but to destroy the capacity to form any.” –Hannah Arendt Gabriola Island, B.C. These environmental toxins include fluoride in our water supplies, a known neurotoxin that causes brain damage and exacerbate the af… Dumbing Us Down The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling ISBN 086571231X is a book by teacher John Taylor Gatto. But now I listened to the audiobook again, he seemed increasingly reasonable and sound to me. I am a secondary teacher, and it is a shame to have students learning something and getting into it, only to have the bell ring and to usher them off to their next class. The 7 lessons taught cracked me up because they are so spot on and obvious yet no one else has spoken up like Mr. Gatto. This was an excellent book written by a NY teacher of the year who taught for 26 years in the "government controlled monopoly school system". And now when it comes to education dumbing us down is a certified masterpiece, the type of book you recommend without hesitation, the type you buy a few copies of and find people to give them to. Host Laura Ingraham mentioned an effort to eliminate grammar and history because of racism concerns. This book is proof that home educators are not obsessive nutcases, as he provides inside information on schooling in New York which spanned over 30 years. Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto. Commentators and some political scholars claim to have observed a “dumbing down” in the level of sophistication of political language, leading to anxiety over the quality of democratic deliberation, knowledge, policy design, and implementation. europarl.europa.eu. Gingrich called that a product of the “dumbing down” of the country through three generations of indoctrination and groupthink in America’s education system. Une telle politique contribuera à faire prévaloir la qualité sur la sous-culture, quel qu'en soit le pays d'origine. Lewis and now this here little gem dumbing us down. Dumbing Us Down: Notes. Dumbing down is the deliberate oversimplification of intellectual content in education, literature, and cinema, news, video games, and culture.Originated in 1933, the term "dumbing down" was movie-business slang, used by screenplay writers, meaning: "[to] revise so as to appeal to those of little education or intelligence". Full of terrible dreams which made his eyes very red, he went to the washroom. to get yet another that I want to use for my current article. A reading of Dumbing Us Down written by John Taylor Gatto, read by Dusty Rose. The best part of this book is that it was short. Summary. Summary: Charlotte Thomson ... in the US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Research and Improvement—form which emanated most of the dumbing down programs described in this book. It's funny because I was thinking to myself, "it sounds like this guy is blaming public education for all the problems in this world." At one time not that long ago America reigned supreme as a leading model … I see why this one gets lots of bad reviews. Sure to cause riots once more people realize that twelve to thirteen years of their lives were utterly wasted. NOOK Book. Posted in Effortless English Show, Reading, Uncategorized. The best part of this book is that it was short. Originally the term dumbing down was used as a slang expression in 1933 by film screenwriters to mean “revising [the script] so as to appeal to those of lower education or intelligence.” The most obvious example of how Americans have been dumbed down is through this nation’s failed public education system. It is an eye opener that what is needed is less money, not more. Gatto's analysis of the damage done to a student's curiosity is so incisive as to wake any educated parent to our failing school system. Having already read “School is dead” by Everett Reimer, “Hvis Skolen Ikke Fantes”, Nils Christie and “Deschooling Society”, Ivan Illich, all books from around 1970, it was interesting to read “Dumbing Us Down” by John Taylor Gatto. Let me start out by saying that I am a public school teacher, so I may have some bias and will admit that I could feel defensive as Gatto derides public education, even though he was in public education for almost 30 years. Summary: Former NYC and New York State School Teacher of the Year (John Taylor Gatto) illustrates HOW and WHY our public schools are dumbing us down… and what We can do about it. I am truly moved in ways that are uncomfortable. The term “dumbing down” was a secret code used by film writers in the 1930s to revise scripts to appeal to viewers of lower intelligence. Wow I just wrote a thoughtful and brilliant review of this book and then pushed the wrong button and lost. Smartphones are changing the way we think and dumbing down our intellectual abilities in frightening ways. While written over two and a half decades ago it's not hard to draw parallels with the culture and dysfunction Gatto describes in his book with that of today. Dumbing us Down Through Public Education Many of us believe that public education has been with us for quite some time. He is very big on interacting as a community rather than a network. His books include: Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (1992); The Exhausted School (1993); A Different Kind of Teacher (2000); and The Underground History Of American Education (2001) of which the special author's Pre-Publication Edition (2000) is for sale at this Web site. That is the only reason I finished it. Dumbing down is the oversimplification of information and information environments. The author spends 100 pages ranting about the horrors of public schools. The teacher vanished. He is an activist critical of compulsory schooling and of what he characterizes as the hegemonic nature of discourse on education and the education professions. The author believes that these constraints discourage students from thinking for themselves Sampling many of his best personal essays, Dumbing Us Down features the true reasons why education in our modern day system is failing: because it’s meant to be that way. Deleting History & The Dumbing Down of America A note from The Liberty Beacon editors You cannot “Delete Histroy” without first “Dumbing Down” the populace. GET MY COURSE . Like it happens sometimes, he also fell in a day of mistakes. Let us check out the advantages and drawbacks of the technique. The content was definitely thought provoking and worthy of consideration. I have been hearing about this book in all of my 14 years of home education and can't believe I waited so long to read it. John Taylor Gatto's Weapons of Mass Instruction focuses on mechanisms of traditional education which cripple imagination, discourage critical thinking, and create a false view of learning as a byproduct of rote-memorization drills. The Dumbing Down of America. Dumbing Us Down The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (Book) : Gatto, John Taylor : Gatto reveals the deadening heart of compulsory state schooling: assumptions and structures that stamp out the self-knowledge, curiosity, concentration, and solitude essential to learning. This is a damning indictment against the public school system written by none other than a teacher who lived it. Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (ISBN 086571231X) is a non-fiction book written by American teacher John Taylor Gatto. Start by marking “Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Charlotte Iserbyt has put her great exposé, The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America, on the Internet so that anyone can now read it and download it free of charge. I may not agree with each and every point that he makes, since I find him to be a bit extremist in some situations, but he is beyond thought-provoking. Nearly everything this author has to say gets said in the first chapter; the rest is just other speeches in which he expounds the virtues of small-town life or goes into anecdotes or repeats "school sucks" with different words. I think there are things that need to be done to improve education. Absolutely outstanding! Start learning English with Power English . By ordering the course I hereby agree to your terms and conditions. Thirty years of teaching in the public school system led John Taylor Gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory governmental schooling is to blame, accomplishing little but to teach young people to follow orders like cogs in an industrial machine. Save this story for later. And that's his prerogative, considering how long he was a teacher, and this is his book. What a great read. Dumbing Us Down | Chapter 5 | John Taylor Gatto. The essay "Dumbing Us Down: Weapons of Mass Instruction" attempts to address issues in the modern education system that, according to the author, are placing constraints on the minds of students. The last chapter, did focus on religion, which made me a little uneasy. I checked this book out after a friend recommended John Taylor Gatto to me after an argument on a Facebook thread that started with a post about how we seem to be producing people who have contempt for science and reason. and then at the very end of the book he say's, "This system doesn't work, and it's one of the causes of our world coming apart." One sees and hears something, only to forget it again. That's not to say Gatto's ideas aren't reasonable. But when you stick your foot out there and heap a steaming pile of "this sucks because I say it sucks" on the entire American educational system, you're going to make some enemies. and then at the very end of the book he say's, "This system doesn't work, and it's one of the causes of our. Dumbing Us Down The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (Book) : Gatto, John Taylor : "John Taylor Gatto's radical treatise on public education, a New Society Publishers bestseller for 25 years, continues to advocate for the unshackling of children and learning from formal schooling. ‘Common Core’ Education. Smartphones are making us dumber. I will say there were things I agreed with, such as the idea that schools are built like factories. From the New York State teacher of 29 years and 8 months and author several! On education graduate with more love for books than for computers such a short by! The child needs to memorize to stay in school system is yet another that I to. 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