Dumbing Us Down cover art

Dumbing Us Down

The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

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Dumbing Us Down

By: John Taylor Gatto
Narrated by: Michael Puttonen
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About this listen

Thirty years in New York City's public schools led John Gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory schooling does little but teach young people to follow orders like cogs in an industrial machine. With over 100,000 copies in print since its original publication in 2002, this book is collection of essays and speeches and contains a description of the wide-spread impact of the book and Gatto's "guerrilla teaching".

About the author: John Gatto was a teacher in New York City's public schools for over 30 years and is a recipient of the New York State Teacher of the Year award. A much-sought after speaker on education throughout North America, his other books include Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling, A Different Kind of Teacher, and The Underground History of American Education.

©2002 John Taylor Gatto (P)2012 Post Hypnotic Press, Inc 21st Century Americas Childhood Education Education Homeschooling Modern Social Sciences Sociology New York American Education

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Most relevant  
This work of Mr. Gatto is eyes opening piece!
I’m sure I’ll go through this book many times over and also study his website.
It is journey which allows you to finally understand why is all so terrible wrong and shows it all starting at school where humanity get trapped in that deadly downward spiral!

Highly recommending to all ages readers.

Dumbing Us Down

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Our youth are observably dumber than previous generations, completely indoctrinated with political rhetoric and radical ideology, they no longer have sense of reality. Sad times.

Education has unfortunately been replaced with indoctrination

Observably true in 2022

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As a parent it is our job to see multiple viewpoints that vary widely and make the best decision for our children and this book is definitely one of those must reads! Thank you for sharing your experience in the school world and explaining how it all came about and what it does.

An eye opener much needed for today’s society

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These are the exact frustrations I felt after graduating school. Only worded much better. Thanks.

Pure truth.

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Just brilliant. Puts into words everything I've felt throughout my life but couldn't verbalise regarding the school system. It left me upset and angry about my own experience, but more determined than ever to give my children an entirely different life. A fantastically thought-provoking book.

Brilliant.

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The "education" industry is the mental plague of the modern world. As it gets more protracted, more expensive and more centrally controlled, the bonsai people, who are it's product, become increasingly disinterested in learning anything important, and invincibly ignorant.

The proof is in the pudding. Schooling does not support individual education and becoming potent, competent, responsible adults, because it is designed to do the opposite!

Gatto doesn't confine himself to one "subject" but calls upon history, philosophy, religion, anthropology etc. to illustrate his thesis.

The most intelligent exposé of schooling.

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A beautifully narrated and presented book. From a truly questioning mind with no agenda other than the genuine ambition to responsibly take his own role in schooling seriously and to care from a fundamental level. What a lovely man.

Something we all know deep in our hearts

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Easy to listen and understand as everyone can see it’s absolutely truth about system that failing us

Eye opening amazing book

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Brilliant, eye-opener, a must-read, everyone, especially parents and teachers, should read this book. It explains so much about society today.

The perfect title for the world today

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This is a MUST-READ book for every parent, teacher, school leader and anyone involved in education in any capacity.

The tone of the narrator is occasionally dull and uninspiring although this definitely doesn’t take anything away from the quality of the book itself and the credentials of the author.

Great Book, Great Content!

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