AlmiraGulch Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I read this this morning and thought I'd share. It was timely comfort to me as I battle my nervousness and waiver in my decision to bring my middle-schooler home from the public schools next year. Written by a gentlman named John Taylor Gatto, and originally published in the Wall Street Journal in 1991, here's the link to where I found it today: http://educationrevolution.stores.yahoo.net/iquit.html I’ve taught public school for 26 years but I just can’t do it anymore. For years I asked the local school board and superintendent to let me teach a curriculum that doesn’t hurt kids, but they had other fish to fry. So I’m going to quit, I think. I’ve come slowly to understand what it is I really teach: A curriculum of confusion, class position, arbitrary justice, vulgarity, rudeness, disrespect for privacy, indifference to quality, and utter dependency. I teach how to fit into a world I don’t want to live in. [please do not include entire article] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maria/ME Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I really enjoy Gatto and anything he has to say! If anyone is not familiar with him check out this link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlmiraGulch Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 Just an apology for the double post under two different titles, and I don't know how to delete. Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlmiraGulch Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 Sorry about the double post with two different titles! It was accidental, and I don't know how to delete one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen in NS Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I read this this morning and thought I'd share. It was timely comfort to me as I battle my nervousness and waiver in my decision to bring my middle-schooler home from the public schools next year. Written by a gentlman named John Taylor Gatto, and originally published in the Wall Street Journal in 1991, here's the link to where I found it today: http://educationrevolution.stores.yahoo.net/iquit.html I’ve taught public school for 26 years but I just can’t do it anymore. For years I asked the local school board and superintendent to let me teach a curriculum that doesn’t hurt kids, but they had other fish to fry. So I’m going to quit, I think. I’ve come slowly to understand what it is I really teach: A curriculum of confusion, class position, arbitrary justice, vulgarity, rudeness, disrespect for privacy, indifference to quality, and utter dependency. I teach how to fit into a world I don’t want to live in. This is why my mother quit teaching in public schools after about the same amount of time as you, and why she is fiercely supportive of me homeschooling. She tried subbing a few years ago, too, to make some extra money, and couldn't stand it anymore. She wrote a note to the regular teacher saying she couldn't teach the current math instructions because they didn't make sense, even though she'd taught elementary math for years.:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I really enjoy Gatto and anything he has to say! If anyone is not familiar with him check out this link! I have never heard of him before. I listened to the clip on extended childhood at the link you gave. Very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 It was this very essay (I Quit, I Think) that convinced me to homeschool. I am so thankful that I read this when I did. We're 4 years into our homeschooling journey, and I have never once looked back! -Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julpost Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I found this gem on the same website-I love reading anything by Gatto!! http://educationrevolution.stores.yahoo.net/richestman.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 When I read "The Underground History of American Education" I became someone whose bridges had burned. I had always yearned toward homeschooling, but was not against schools. Academics had served me so well. But after that book, I became a homeschooler to the core. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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