Against School By: John Taylor Gatto

"Against School", an article by John Taylor Gatto outlines some of the most critical problems facing our school systems today. In some respects, it follows the line of thinking presented by Michael Moore in his article "Idiot Nation". There is no doubt about Michael Moore and the extensive research he put into his article. Even thought Michael Moore’s article was thought provoking, he is lacking something that John Gatto has, practical experience. John Gatto has been in the schools, he has been restricted by the strict structure, and he has seen first hand, the results of the current educational system. Because of John’s personal experience, he has a firm grasp on the real meaning of education.
I must applaud John Gatto’s understanding of an “educated” person. I really like how he clearly defines the difference between an “educated” person and a “schooled” person. The history of this country is full of people who have been regarded as educated, but who have received very little formal schooling. I appreciate John’s view on the problem and how he recognizes it isn’t a local problem isolated to a few areas of the country; it is a nation wide problem.
I found it interesting to read about problems he observed in the State of New York, and being able to relate them to problems I have seen involving my own children here in St. George. My children have been admired by their teachers ever since Kindergarten. I don’t know how many parent teacher conferences I have attended where the teachers have told my wife and I that our children are “more advanced” than the material which is being taught. Just this last year, my youngest daughter’s teacher told my wife and I about the remarkable job my daughter was doing with her reading. She told us our daughter was far beyond her expected reading level. The teacher told us she could not give our daughter more advanced reading material because it was not approved by the curriculum. I must agree with the statement that the system restricts our students from using their full creativity and it hinders them from reaching their full potential.
Even though I agree with some of the points John makes in his article, I don’t think I am sold on the idea that the system has been set up as a method of control. I realize there are elements of the educational system that may point in that direction, but I think there is more than one point of view to look at on this issue. When the educational system was changed and the “no child left behind” laws adopted, I think the intentions were good, but the application was poor. It is a difficult problem to address and possibly the answer will have to come from a source outside of the educational system. I think the answer was briefly touched on in this article.
We tend to focus on the issues with the educational system. I feel our children go to school to help them build a solid foundation for their acquisition of knowledge. A child’s education should come from the home. The real teachers need to be parents, and other close family members. When you look at those who have the greatest influence on a child, the child’s family has a far greater influence on them than any of their school teachers. So before we blame an underfunded and understaffed educational system, maybe we should look at our countries’ deteriorating family structure. If a child is raised and taught to think for themselves, and to be independent, nobody can control them. We are all masters of our own destinies. Just a thought in closing; nobody can exercise control over another without the other’s consent.