Preview

And Contrast John Gatto's Ideas On The American Education System

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
470 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
And Contrast John Gatto's Ideas On The American Education System
Many people of all ages have different views on education. In the following essay I will compare two authors’ ideas on the educational system in America. I will share my thoughts from the essays titled “Against School” by John Gatto and “I Just Wanna Be Average” by Mike Rose and how they relate to my experiences and schools today. The essay by John Gatto is a writing explaining why the author is against the American educational system and he points out its numerous flaws. Gatto’s essay explains that schools are “boring” for both students and teachers because the routine never changes. The schools force the same education down students throats no matter if they will become a nuclear physicist or work in a mobile home factory. The schools attempt to bring the students together by making them alike. The students take these mandatory classes that have nothing to do with what they want to do as they grow older, so the students “get bored”. I must say I tend to agree with Gatto’s thinking in his essay. I do believe that the educational system has its flaws, however, I do believe those flaws are greater in secondary education more than post-secondary education. …show more content…
In this essay Rose grows to become a fan of school after just doing enough to get by like the rest of the students. Rose did not want to conform to the social norm of his peers and just be average. He wanted to go above and beyond the rest, although he did not want to show it for fear of being made fun of by fellow students. Roses life changed when Jack MacFarland came into his life. MacFarland was a teacher of Mike’s who challenged him to become better. By this I mean the extent of MacFarland’s knowledge made Rose want to learn more and want to better his life. Due to the inspiration of one teacher, Rose succeeded in school and became a very successful
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Rose's Different Teachers
    • 597 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Rose's Different Teachers

    . List the Different teachers Rose writes about in this essay, adding a sentence to each name describing his significance for Rose: A) Brother Dill - A troubled and unstable man, Brother Dill held no significance for Rose academically. B) Mr. Mitropetros - A parking lot manager who lacked viable english training, Mr. Mitropetros held no more significance for Rose academically than Brother Dill. C) Mr. Montez - A tiny man, Mr. Montez also held no academic significance for Rose. However, Mr. Montez did teach Rose that too much freedom unchecked can be very dangerous. D) Brother Slattery - Brother Slattery, who did manage to teach Rose history by using a stern voice and administering weekly quizzes, made no significant impact on Rose because, like many other teachers, he lacked the ability to engage the imagination of the students as well. E. Brother Clint - Young, powerful and very handsome, Brother Clint's academic significance for Rose was admirable in that he genuinely cared enough about Rose's grades that he actually took the time to investigate why Rose was on the track in the first place. Brother Clint was by far the driving force that steered Rose in the right direction. F. Mr. McFarland - At twenty-six and possessing a master's degree fromColumbia, Mr. MacFarland played a very significant role in Rose's life academically and socially. He awakened in Rose a desire to excel in school that had not been present since elementary school. He also became somewhat of a surrogate father, mentor, and friend.…

    • 597 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Did Jack Macfear Impact On Learning
    • 176 Words
    • 1 Page

    How Did Jack Macfear Impact On Learning

    Although first appearing as overbearing, Jack MacFarland positively impacted Rose’s perspective on learning. He reinvigorated the author’s interest in reading and creating stories and encouraged him to perform with more effort and determination through his academic ministrations. As a result, in the author’s words, he “gave me a way to feel special by using my mind.” Moreover, he not only inspired the narrator to enter college but provided the opportunity for him to enroll in Loyola University, MacFarland’s alma mater. Furthermore, he served as a role model for the once scholastically indifferent writer.…

    • 176 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Against School By John Taylor Gatto: Influences Of Public School
    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Against School By John Taylor Gatto: Influences Of Public School

    In the story “Against school: How public education cripples our kids, and why” the author, John Taylor Gatto, establishes the idea of how public education can lead to a negative impact on students. School train kids, “[to become] employees and consumers…” (Gatto 231) instead of teaching kids how to deal with certain situations that my come across in life. The story was directed to parents with kids in elementary school.…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis: "Against School"
    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis: "Against School"

    In the essay, Against School, John Taylor Gatto, expresses his strong belief in middle diction of how students in the typical public schooling system are conformed to low-standard education in order to benefit the society much more than the student themselves; causing schooling to be unnecessary as opposed to education . He believes that children and teachers are caught in extreme boredom as a result of repeated material. This boredom also causes a lack of maturity and independence in the students. Gatto wrote this essay in 2003 which appeared in Harper’s magazine. He gathered these observations during his 30 years of teaching in the best and worst schools of New York City. In 1991, he was named the New York City Teacher of the Year and later on New York State Teacher of the Year. He has written many publications on his experience with being an educator including Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling (1992) and The Underground History of American Education (2001). This essay was most likely written to inform any American reader (student, parent, and teacher) of the reality of our modern schooling, based on Gatto’s use of modes of development and formal diction.…

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Gatto Against School Summary
    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages

    John Gatto Against School Summary

    In the essay “Against School” the author John Taylor, Gatto claims boredom has made a big impact in schooling systems all around the United States not only in Manhattan, New York. Gatto believes that boredom affects the capability of ones education and also states that boredom is a common condition not only in students but also in schoolteachers. Gatto is against schools all together, saying that our school system is to blame, a school system not designed by the United States but adapted from the Prussian culture.…

    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Horace Mann Against Schools Summary
    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Horace Mann Against Schools Summary

    In the article named “Report of the Massachusetts Board of Education” by Horace Mann, the author explains that school is an integral step to prepare for students to be aware of the responsibilities of becoming good citizens. On the other hand, the text “Against Schools” by John Taylor Gatto emphasizes that the role of the school system is not necessary in society since it forces students to go to school and sit around in classes for a certain amount of hours for twelve years, but many students feel useless and bored with the school curriculum. Although Mann makes a good point when he says school is important for student’s future, I must disagree with Mann and agree with Gatto because of my own educational…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summary Of Dumbing Us Down By John Gatto
    • 121 Words
    • 1 Page

    Summary Of Dumbing Us Down By John Gatto

    John Taylor Gatto, a New York City schoolteacher for over thirty years, wrote Dumbing Us Down as a means of expressing his belief that the compulsory government school system has little to do with the education of an individual. Gatto’s book on the failing education system is made up of essays, commentaries, and speeches that he has composed over the years. According to John Gatto, this compulsory schooling system - along with television- diminishes individuality, which is more important in life than regimentation. He expresses that with the manner in which the education system is set up, teachings of indifference and intellectual dependency are integrated into schools which in turn do not allow for students to gain a purpose for themselves.…

    • 121 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Second Thoughts On Secondary Education In The 1980's
    • 3020 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Second Thoughts On Secondary Education In The 1980's

    The Educational system in America has been subject to many reforms in the past century, and despite many theories; none have been successful in creating a world-class public school system that America needs to stay on the leading edge of advancement. A mixture of low standards, a transition to equity, and lack of discipline has led to the poor excuse of an educational system we all know today. The costs and consequences of these problems are getting even greater, however, there are examples to be followed and changes that can be made to turn this catastrophe around.…

    • 3020 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Failures In The American Education System
    • 1789 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Examples Of Failures In The American Education System

    It is dumbing down our children by focusing solely on reading and mathematics. By ignoring everything but basic skills, it is not preparing students to compete with their peers in the high-performing nations of Asia and Europe, nor is it preparing them for citizenship in our complex society” (Ravitch). Some of the contributing factors to the failing education system can be described as far back to 1837 when the famous American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson addressed the essential influences on a man’s education in his speech “The American Scholar.” In this speech, Emerson describes several aspects of how students should learn and these points can still relate to today’s education system. The American education system has many lacking aspects and Emerson addresses some of these issues in his speech. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “The American Scholar” describes the problems with today’s American education system by explaining the lack of creating well-rounded students, the confinement of…

    • 1789 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Essay Against School
    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Essay Against School

    All throughout my educational career I had never taken the time to reflect on what school really meant to me and if school was made optional would I still attend? After reading the essay “Against School,” by John Taylor Gatto a series of questions began to arise in my head. Is school really that necessary? Is it really the only way for a person to be successful in life? According to John Taylor Gatto schools are nothing but merely “laboratories of experimentation on young minds, drill centers for the habits and attitudes that corporate society demands (38).” After reading Gatto’s essay I must say I agree. The educational school system in the U.S…

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Schooling
    • 1400 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Schooling

    Schooling is seen as a necessary part of life in America for generations, needed to transform the children of the nation into happy and productive individuals. Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem with overall performance. According to the Program for International Student Assessment survey administered by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2012, the United States ranks 27th in math, 17th in reading, and 20th in science. According to the OECD the US spends more on education than most countries with an average of $115,000 per student (PISA, 1). Unfortunately, that level of spending has not equaled an improvement in education. We have tried to improve our schools with more money, better teachers, and legislation such as No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. What if the true problem with schooling is not the components of the system, but the system itself? In the article “Against School” John Taylor Gatto present several causes for the failing of the American public school system. One of the main causes he puts forth is the institution of compulsory schooling in a system designed to repress the working class, keeping the classes…

    • 1400 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Botstein's Critique of the American High School
    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Botstein's Critique of the American High School

    Reading Leon Botstein’s critique of the American high school really made me think about what would be most beneficial to our country. Is eight years of school too long? I disagree with Botstein's critique because of maturity, work load, and adulthood.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Weapons of Mass Instruction - John Taylor Gatto
    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Weapons of Mass Instruction - John Taylor Gatto

    Gatto certainly believes that everything we thought we knew was right about school is actually wrong. (Gatto 2010, p.60). According to Gatto, the reality is “our schools today are laboratories of experimentation on young minds, drill centers for the habits and attitudes that corporate society demands” (Gatto 2010, p. xxii). In other words the true purpose of school is successfully dumbing down our population so we can’t think for ourselves, and so we can be controlled with ease. I can relate to him by thinking back to high school when students would speak out against teachers by asking why we had to learn certain material. Not once do I recall a teacher offering any answer other than “its just the way it is, and it is part of the curriculum.” Some teachers would even go as far as to instruct students to leave the classroom if they dared to ask…

    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The American Dream Of Education Analysis
    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The American Dream Of Education Analysis

    Have you ever wondered how far your education can take you? Everyone wants to live The American Dream, and with that dream comes The American Dream of Education. Society expects us to do well in school and graduate with the highest degree in college. This does not come easy to most Americans. John Taylor Gatto the author of “Against School” says “help kids take an education rather than merely receive a schooling.” (143). What Gatto means by saying that is that even though we are given the opportunity for a free education we still must choose between just receiving the education, because it’s the law, or being focused and motivated and take the education given…

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Modern Schooling
    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Modern Schooling

    Gatto claims that modern schooling is detrimental to society. He starts off by highlighting the goals set forth by the education reform in the early 1900s that developed…

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics