Sample
  • Dumbing Us Down

  • The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling
  • By: John Taylor Gatto
  • Narrated by: Michael Puttonen
  • Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,352 ratings)

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Dumbing Us Down

By: John Taylor Gatto
Narrated by: Michael Puttonen
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Publisher's summary

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

What listeners say about Dumbing Us Down

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Will homeschool next year

I have. 8,10 & 12 year olds and this comes school year will be my first time homeschooling after listening to this book I am sure is the right decision for me.

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a real truth telling from a place of knowledge

you wanna know? read this. you wanna kill the society keep the status quo.. it's not up to just one of us. we all need to see the truth...

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Eye opening

This was very interesting, simple yet there was so much information to learn. I think anyone who cares about the future of their children in society should give this a listen!

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HOME SCHOOL YOUR KIDS

Once you know the patterns of government you’ll see that, no matter the political party, their goal isn’t to give true freedom. The more power you give them the more they will let you. And giving away control of the education of our children was a HUGE mistake!

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School first lesson is confusion

Everything was greatly appreciated. Well written and thorough explanations were given. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested understand the nature of schooling versus education

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interesting and very logical

This book was an eye opener. I was thinking about homeschooling and now Im for sure more incline to doing so

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Great read

Excellent analysis of the current system. I wish Gatto was still around! Please share this book

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If enough people read this book the world would...

If enough people read this book the world would be a better place. Actually, if you read this book the world will be a better place. And if you get some one else to read it the world will be even better off.

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Priceless insights of a flawed educational system

As a student who always felt completely at odds with my schooling I find Gatto's essays to be very relatable. Alas the system continues down the same old path all these years later. Thank goodness for intelligent, concerned, open minded educators like Gatto who can still reach out to people through his books. This information is important for anyone who comes in contact with a school or university.

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Possibly one of the most important things I have ever listened to.

Writing anything here would be antithetical to the premise of this vastly important work, but Audible insists that I must put abstract squiggly lines here. As such I will say only this, give it a go and make your own judgment.

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