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WomanSource Catalog & Review: Tools for Connecting the Community for Women
School reform is all the rage these days; there is talk of a national cirriculum, of a return to the "basics," of computers in every classroom. But will these changes ensure a better education for our children? John Gatto, a New York City schoolteacher for 26 years, says "no." He points out that no matter how good the teachers or how progressive the texts, it is the structure of our school system that is the dominant factor in a child's education, teaching them to obey without question, give the answer that is expected, do only what is demanded and conform at all costs. Between school and television, kids have little opportunity to interact with their communities, explore ideas that interest them and persue learning experiences with different adults. Only by returning control over educational options to families and communities can we produce citizens who will be actively engaged in their world.—FGP
Overview
A highly praised bestseller for over a decade, Dumbing Us Down is a radical treatise on public education that concludes that compulsory government schooling does little but teach young people to follow orders like cogs in a machine. This Special Collector's Hardcover Edition celebrates 100,000 copies of the book in print, and the book's on-going importance and popularity.
John Gatto was a teacher in New York City's public schools for over 30 years and is a recipient of the New ...