While I agree with Gatto’s argument about the role that the modern education system serves in the reproduction and repression of the citizenry, his solution to the problem, self-educating children, fails to addresses the wider influence on society that our education system has. Education teaches people what to value and what not to value. Gatto himself points this out when breaking down the six functions. He writes, “Schools are meant to tag the unfit – with poor grades, remedial placement, and other punishments – clearly enough that their peers will accept them as inferior and effectively bar them from the reproductive sweepstakes.” Schools label the “unfit”, but more importantly they socialize people to also unconsciously label the “unfit.” The same process, informed by the obedience and conformity that are taught in school, occurs in other institutions. Gatto’s example from his experience in the New York Public School System demonstrates this. His efforts to work outside of the norms of the classroom led to his eventual firing. Deviance is always met with sanctions. The unconventional thought that Gatto strives for would not be valued in society. It would be dismissed and sometimes would be actively repressed. The solution to the problem of the modern education system therefore cannot be circumvented just by individual action. Reforming the education system to value the unconventional would be the only way to promote the kind of education that Gatto strives for. However, perhaps it is not possible to reform, because education systems were not built to manage citizens, not educate them.
Introduction to Comparative Politics: Nationalism, Ideology, and State Power
Professor Shervin Malekzadeh
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I completely agree, as you and Gatto state, that mass education cannot effectively address individualism and creativity. I think your point is well-made, however I am curious as to why you dismiss Gatto’s suggestion of homeschooling. I feel that a massive overhaul of our education system, which I agree will require more than just a few individual actions, would require multiple alternative forms of schooling including homeschooling. While homeschooling might not be for every child, and systems like Montessori, Waldorf, online, and trade specific options would allow some students to shine, I don’t believe we should discount any form of schooling without offering it to every student. Individualism would best be supported by diversifying education as much as possible. Thus, while I agree that homeschooling should not be the only option, I think it would be important to include if America wanted to drastically change its system.