Acclaimed Teacher: Schools Produce Infantile Adults

Atlanta, February 6^th, 2002: John Taylor Gatto, 30-year public school teaching veteran who climaxed his teaching career as New York State Teacher of the Year after being named New York City Teacher of the Year on three occasions, spoke last week at Central Presbyterian Church on the Future of Education. Speaking for over 90 minutes, Gatto's remarks February 6th paralleled his themes in The Underground History of American Education and Dumbing us Down, two of Gatto's popular books. He focused largely on the rationale for and proof of the aim of public education to promote and maintain extended childhood and "childishness" in its products (graduates). Gatto showed how public education fulfills the need for our industrialized society to maintain a class of citizens willing to be cogs in its wheels as opposed to genuinely educated classes willing and able to think for themselves. In the past, young people were allowed (or expected) to take major responsibilities at an early age. Today, we make it virtually impossible for young people to experience responsibility until well into their 20s. Because childishness is encouraged, it extends into adulthood, producing adults who make expedient choices without regard for others and who whine, bicker, and seek approval from others, who can't stand to be bored, and who seek infantile outlets (physical gratifications devoid of intellectual or spiritual meaning).

Gatto averred also that schools condition children to take orders from strangers, to be regimented, to work in a hierarchy, to accept the arbitrary rankings imposed by otherwise meaningless standardized test scores, and thus to be good industrial employees.

On how schools came into their current condition, Gatto disavowed any theory that smacks of conspiracy (big corporations out to create legions of human robots), in favor of a less sinister, but no less disturbing theory. Those who set the wheels in motion for creating such a system believed in a scientific approach to education that would transform society, producing wealth and eliminating strife--a Utopian concept.

While the title of the talk was "The Future of Education: What Will Work," Gatto's conclusion was, "Take your children out, and whenever you can, throw sand in the gearworks." In other words, Gatto says that public education cannot be salvaged.

The crowd numbering over 250 included legislators, school superintendents, numerous home educators, college admission counselors, private and government school teachers as well as Representative Mitchell Kaye who is running for State School Superintendent. Gatto fielded questions after his speech. Photos of the event are posted on www.heir.org

More pictures are available at http://www.heir.org\HEIR Sponsors John Taylor Gatto - February 2002\pxdirweb.htm.

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