Gatto uncovers the underlying intention for public schools to produce docile factory workers. Once you make your goals clear and explicit, much of the argument over how to educate becomes moot or even silly.
Sudbury Valley School in Massachusets (and other offshoot Sudbury-model schools) are one answer to the "ok, what then?" that comes after reading Gatto. If you set a goal of producing thoughtful, self-directed citizens of a democracy, you end up with a school which is democratic and self-directed.
Once you make your goals clear and explicit, much of the argument over how to educate becomes moot or even silly.
It's interesting how many controversies evaporate if you stop assuming that the labels on things are accurate. For example, if instead of the "education" system we spoke of the "child processing system", the world might make more sense. And instead of "health care" we could talk about "disease management". And so on!
Sudbury Valley School in Massachusets (and other offshoot Sudbury-model schools) are one answer to the "ok, what then?" that comes after reading Gatto. If you set a goal of producing thoughtful, self-directed citizens of a democracy, you end up with a school which is democratic and self-directed.