The Underground History of American Education (Paperback)

~ John Taylor Gatto (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 414 pages
• Publisher: The Oxford Village Press; 2nd edition (2001)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000KF42JK
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #978,616 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never confuse public schooling with a true education, February 15, 2008

By	OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

I read this book after a lifetime of public schooling- from kindergarten to graduate school. In fact, I had trained to be a teacher myself at one point. When I found this book I literally could not put it down. Gatto was stating everything that I had intuitively known was wrong with the American public school system all along in amazing encyclopedic detail. I truly felt like I was reading a secret history that I was never supposed to find out about. I have yet to find a flaw or inaccuracy in any of what he points out- it all has the loud ring of Truth.

The major premise here is that American schooling has been dumbed down to provide mindless, loyal workers who cannot think for themselves. At least this is the schooling provided to the masses. This was a deliberate act with roots in 19th century industrialism. He shows how the Civil War demonstrated to industrialists and financiers how a standardized population trained to follow orders without significant thought could be made to function as a money tree. Moreover, the proper schooling could be used to strip the common population of its power to cause trouble. You see, our global power and corporate wealth is based on a third-rate educational system that actually works against developing men and women of true character and intellect. The mindless bureaucrat and worker who follows a system without thought or question is the pattern that our "efficient" system depends on. That is what schooling produces. One should never confuse schooling with true education- and definitely not with intelligence.

There is just so many fascinating facts here that you will find nowhere else. I found it especially illuminating that the early British and American educational pioneers (who influenced schooling all over the world) were strongly influenced by the system of schooling that existed in India- a system that existed primarily to sustain the caste system. Of course the tie-ins with the mechanistic, authoritarian Prussian state were also enlightening (Prussia has historically been described as "an army with a country" and "a gigantic penal institution.") There is also his mention of the Chinese "Dangan"- a western inspired lifelong personnel file that follows you from job to job- unless there is anything "unusual" in it, whereas, you will never get another decent job. Kind of sounds like the kind of background checking and privacy invasion that American based corporations have instituted the last few decades.

As the author states, a truly educated person writes his own script through life- he is not a character in a government or corporation play. The educated person is self-determined to a large degree.

And, as Jefferson said, an educated person knows the ways of the human heart so well that he's tough to cheat or fool.

Refuse to be cheated or fooled any longer- read this book.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Must Read book!, August 9, 2007

By	J. D. Northcutt "northcutt3" (Camden, SC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The amount of history presented in this book is almost overwhelming. At the same time it is compelling to read. I could hardly put the book down.
I had no idea how much social engineering takes place in our government schools. This is an eye opening exposure of the hidden agendas that have and are driving our educational system.
I disagree with the first reviewer. Corporal punishment in schools of old, is briefly touched on in the beginning of the book.It was not a major position of any kind. I wonder if he/she read more than just the very beginning of the book.
If you were educated in the public schools then you should read this book. If anyone that you care about is or will be educated in the public schools then you should read this book.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll get an education just by reading this book, July 10, 2007

By	MAT (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This is the best book on the subject of schooling I've ran into. I absolutely love this book. He presents evidence to prove his points very clearly. I find his history very accurate, although I'm not an "expert." I would really like anyone to challenge this book just to see if it can be done.
The previous review misses the point completely, especially the one that says this book endorses hitting. I question whether that reviewer read any of the book. This book is a work of pure passion and intellect. Even if you hate the subject of education and want to fall asleep whenever the subject comes up, you would find this book fascinating.
I think he's my hero. I wish this were written 15 years ago.