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“Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important: how to live and how to die.” (John Taylor Gatto, Dumbing Us Down)
Classrooms of the Heart - John Taylor Gatto
Classrooms of the Heart - John Taylor Gatto
John Taylor Gatto’s Educational Philosophy
As a prolific writer, Gatto has shared many thoughts on the problems of schooling and how they can be remedied. Some of the most important points he makes are:
- Compulsory education harms students
- People learn from authentic experiences and choices
- The family and the community are essential to a child’s development
During his years as a teacher, Gatto sought to incorporate all of these positions by helping kids have experiences outside of the classroom (yes, even on school days) and connecting them with people in the community.
In Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, he explains:
“Bit by bit I began to devise guerrilla exercises to allow as many of the kids I taught as possible the raw material people always use to educate themselves: privacy, choice, freeom from surveillance, and as broad a range of situations and human associations as my limited power and resources could manage. In simpler terms, I tried to maneuver them into positions where they would have the chance to be their own teachers and make themselves the major text of their own education.”
Gatto’s students held extensive internships in offices around the neighborhood, spent time volunteering, and often had some rather amazing adventures.
In the account below, Gatto explains how he helped two students develop independence in a very real situation.
Schooling is not Education
Schooling is not Education
How John Taylor Gatto Has Made a Difference
How John Taylor Gatto Has Made a Difference
As a high-profile educator, Gatto has been able to spread the word about self-education across the nation. Although it’s been over a decade since he resigned, many still turn to his speeches, articles, and books for an inside look at what’s happening inside today’s classrooms.
Although Gatto’s writings tend to focus on the education of children and young adults, his words can help anyone who is trying to make sense of their own schooling experiences and kindle a love of true education.
Further Reading
Further Reading
If you’re interested in learning more about John Taylor Gatto, check out the following resources.
JohnTaylorGatto.com – Gatto’s Odysseus Group website. Includes free version of book The Underground History of American Education. Also includes a free video clip of John’s former classroom and an audio clip entitled: “The Paradox of Extended Education.”
Why Schools Don’t Educate – Gatto’s acceptance speech upon receiving the 1990 New York Teacher of the Year Award.
The Seven Lesson School Teacher – Gatto’s popular essay examines the unfortunate lessons that teachers unwittingly share.
The Curriculum of Necessity or What Must an Educated Person Know? – An exploration of the knowledge people should master in order to find success in life.
Personal Solutions, Family Solutions – A 1995 article about taking time to be yourself and enjoy your family instead of being a slave to modern institutions.
I Quit, I Think – Gatto sent this letter to the Wall Street Journal after quitting his teaching job. It explains his reasons for quitting the teaching profession and for despising mandatory schooling.
Speeches by John Taylor Gatto – Dozens of downloadable speeches and presentations by Gatto.
What Really Matters – A two-part 1994 article that explores the question of what skills and information is really important in this life – and what isn’t.
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