John Gatto knows what he is talking about. After teaching in a state
with one of the highest per student budgets in the nation, which used many
of the most progressive teaching theories, and still produces some of the
lowest test scores in the nation, his frustration comes from a wealth of
experience. Teachers start their careers with a sincere desire to build
into the lives of students. But when their hands are tied by multi-
cultural disconnectedness and a socialist teaching culture, the frustration
which is shown by Mr. Gatto is likely only the tip of the iceberg
representing the depth of the nationwide problem. From Atlanta to
Minneapolis, news papers are filled with stories of failing students,
failing schools, and school systems which are confused as to the source of
the problem. Maybe it is time that the teachers and principles admit that
they are the source of much of the problem, and set about to restore
accountability and high academic expectations, rather than dumbing down
curriculum (Haines, 2002) , and accepting the mediocre results they
The 7 lesson's John Gatto says are taught be example every day in the
commercialized, impersonal mass production educational factories are:
• CONFUSION: Everything I teach is out of context. I teach the un-
relating of everything. I teach disconnections.
• CLASS POSITION: I teach that students must stay in the class where
• INDIFFERENCE: I teach children not to care about anything too much,
even though they want to make it appear that they do.
• EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCY: By stars and red checks, smiles and frowns,
prizes, honors and disgraces I teach kids to surrender their will to
the predestined chain of command
• INTELLECTUAL DEPENDENCY: Good people wait for a teacher to tell them
what to do. It is the most important less
...