My having had little exposure to American public schools made it difficult to fully connect with John Taylor Gatto\u2019s argument that \u201cmandatory schooling\u2019s purpose is to turn kids into servants (38).\u201d However, quite naturally, I compared his views on the American institution of public education with the public education one receives in Norway. In turn, I found that I agreed with Gatto\u2019s statement in respect to conformity and how \u201cschools are to establish fixed habits of reactions to authority (36)\u201d. This mindset isn\u2019t exclusive to America\u2014public schools in Norway seek to homogenize performance. In recent years, public education in Norway has been cutting programs and activities for gifted and creative students, forcing these students to pursue such interests outside of school on their own accord. Essentially, public schools in Norway have made a conscious effort to level the playing field for all students, attempting to standardize students and limit students that crave more. The result of \u201cmediocre intellects (36)\u201d isn\u2019t as historically (or culturally) engrained as Gatto believes, but instead is a natural response to a lack of resources and funding. I, therefore, disagree with Gatto\u2019s attempt to solve the crux of the issue by simply allowing a select few to avoid the \u201ctricks and traps (38)\u201d of the system. The system is supposed to identify the needs of the masses whilst providing an environment for every individual to thrive\u2014how is it to progress if only a select few have the resources to advance?<\/p>\n
-Christian Horn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My having had little exposure to American public schools made it difficult to fully connect with John Taylor Gatto\u2019s argument that \u201cmandatory schooling\u2019s purpose is to turn kids into servants (38).\u201d However, quite naturally, I compared his views on the … Continue reading