The State of Public Education System in the U.S.

Esmeralda Gonzalez

English 20 Essay 4

“Against school” is argumentative that tell us about how the public education system in capacitates, Gatto claims that the public education system causes children to become bored with themselves, to conform to the way of the school and it’s teachers, and it causes them to lack the ability to deal with issues that go on the real world, outside of school. Gatto’s explanation for this is that it is partially the teachers fault. The students become bored because the teacher is actually bored with teaching the subject. Students would be adamant to learn if they were given and education and not schooling. They need to be encouraged to have the qualities to succeed in life instead of sitting in a prison style that he believes that the student should be able to manage themselves. After reading Gatto’s argument, my only reaction was to agree with him. I believe that the public education system only influence us to conform to society and the government. Were only taught what they want us to be taught. To me, students need more than that. They need the skills to not only succeed but to survive and to keep on succeeding though out life. The material needs to be taught and explained how retaining the knowledge will help them in the future. If we don’t know how it will benefit us in some way then it’s almost meaningful. There’s no reason to remember it. In conclusion, I agree Gatto’s argument because I think it is something must students can relate to. We’ve all had a boring teacher, teaching a boring class, that we taught meant absolutely nothing to us. But if we’ve forced to take the class, then there must be some reason for it. The educational system purpose is to prepare people with the necessary skills and knowledge so that can excel and function properly in today’s society. Gatto refers to Gorge Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Tomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln as they were not formally schooled and yet were very successful. According to Gatto’s there are three main purposes to formal schooling, 1) is to make good people 2) to make good citizens and 3) to make each person his or her best. Gatto claims that there are six basic yet specific functions that intend to hold back and limit the progress and overall success of a student. Of the six functions there are three serve specifically to limit and hinder a student progress, the diagnostic and directive function, the differentiating function, and the propaedeutic function, the differentiating function, and the propaedeutic function all seemingly serve to cripple a students success but when analyzed some do hold some truth but in the end they are merely irrational and ridiculous a accusation made by Gatto.