In my humble opinion this is an important book. Please read it.
Mr Gatto states that the purpose of American education (and perhaps much of the education that happens on this old planet) is designed to "dampen" the intellect, spirit and humanity of people. It is in fact, an assembly line approach to humanity.
Mr Gatto writes about the "empty child" and the stuff that s/he is filled up with. (I know I ended this sentence with a preposition...sorry.) This stuff is supposed to snuff out the dreams and replace them with "reality".
He notes that the educational system (not the teachers, not the schools...but the SYSTEM) is set up to destroy not enhance intellect (I mean thinking and problem solving skills). The statistics he cites on the decline of literacy are frightening. Literacy has dropped so much in less than a hundred years.
Education has replaced learning. Learning is a natural part of life. Learning is how we survive.
But I disagree with him on one point. I believe that this has been done deliberately.
I ask again, please read this book...the text is online.
We're all individuals here. (quoting Life of Brian)
Thanks for your attention.
LadyMary
Slashdot Mirror
In my humble opinion this is an important book. Please read it. Mr Gatto states that the purpose of American education (and perhaps much of the education that happens on this old planet) is designed to "dampen" the intellect, spirit and humanity of people. It is in fact, an assembly line approach to humanity. Mr Gatto writes about the "empty child" and the stuff that s/he is filled up with. (I know I ended this sentence with a preposition...sorry.) This stuff is supposed to snuff out the dreams and replace them with "reality". He notes that the educational system (not the teachers, not the schools...but the SYSTEM) is set up to destroy not enhance intellect (I mean thinking and problem solving skills). The statistics he cites on the decline of literacy are frightening. Literacy has dropped so much in less than a hundred years. Education has replaced learning. Learning is a natural part of life. Learning is how we survive. But I disagree with him on one point. I believe that this has been done deliberately. I ask again, please read this book...the text is online. We're all individuals here. (quoting Life of Brian) Thanks for your attention. LadyMary