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The Underground History of American Education, Volume I: An Intimate Investigation Into the Prison of Modern Schooling Paperback – May 22, 2017

by John Taylor Gatto (Author), Richard Grove (Author), David Rodriguez (Editor),
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 420 ratings
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"The World's Most Courageous Teacher" reveals the inner circle secrets of the American school system. The legendary schoolteacher, John Taylor Gatto, invested over 10 years of dedicated research to uncover some of the most alarming ideas and writings by the creators and advocates of mandatory attendance schooling, which show where the system came from and why it was created. He combined these facts with his personal experience as a teacher for 30 years in New York public schools, where he won many awards, including being named State Teacher of the Year twice, and has authored an all-time classic. This book was originally published in 2001, and has been printed a number of times. However, this updated version includes new essays from the author, as well as contributions from Dr. Ron Paul, David Ruenzel, and Richard Grove. This is the first of a 3 book volume which will help the reader gain a solid understanding about the American school organization and many of the hidden, yet powerful parts. In this first of set, Mr. Gatto's humble yet bold personality, mixed with humor and class, makes it an enjoyable read, despite the importance and implications of the subject. Mr. Gatto says, "It's time to take our schools back. If they mean to have a war, let it begin now."
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  1. Print length
    300 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    May 22, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.68 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0998919101
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0998919102
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Taylor Gatto is a renowned speaker having lectured about education in all 50 states and 9 countries. He taught for 30 years in public schools and was twice awarded the New York State Teacher of the Year. Mr. Gatto resigned from school teaching in the op-ed pages of the Wall Street Journal because he no longer wanted "to hurt kids to make a living." Demonstrating unsurpassed bravery in his condemnation of government-monopoly compulsory schooling, he is known as "The World's Most Courageous Teacher." He is the author of A Different Kind of Teacher, The Exhausted School, Dumbing Us Down, and Weapons of Mass Instruction, having sold over 200,000 copies, and co-creator of the epic 5-hour DVD interview, The Ultimate History Lesson: A Weekend with John Taylor Gatto.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Valor Academy (May 22, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0998919101
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0998919102
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.68 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 420 ratings

About the author

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John Taylor Gatto

John Taylor Gatto

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John Gatto was a teacher in New York City's public schools for over 30 years and is a recipient of the New York State Teacher of the Year award. A much-sought after speaker on education throughout the United States, his other books include A Different Kind of Teacher (Berkeley Hills Books, 2001) and The Underground History of American Education (Oxford Village Press, 2000).

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
420 global ratings
Excellent research is confirming
5 Stars
Excellent research is confirming
This book should be read by all teachers. Not to convince them to quit but to inform what role teachers are playing in a nefarious game and to help them work intentionally with eyes and ears open. Parents can also gain awareness about schooling and make decisions to allow their children to become educated. A really great read.
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Top reviews from the United States

Sherei
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent research is confirming
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book should be read by all teachers. Not to convince them to quit but to inform what role teachers are playing in a nefarious game and to help them work intentionally with eyes and ears open. Parents can also gain awareness about schooling and make decisions to allow their children to become educated. A really great read.
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Sherei
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent research is confirming
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2023
This book should be read by all teachers. Not to convince them to quit but to inform what role teachers are playing in a nefarious game and to help them work intentionally with eyes and ears open. Parents can also gain awareness about schooling and make decisions to allow their children to become educated. A really great read.
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10 people found this helpful
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David T.
5.0 out of 5 stars AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE MUST READ THIS BOOK
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
Love this Book. It prosecutes Schooling from top to bottom and tells you exactly why and how it all started. You can find the backup data an references in everything this thoughtful and sincere teacher did to discover it all. It tells the truth you likely always perceived, but because few around you would even suggest that forced government schooling was a anything other than wonderful and a very valid thing. So it must be you that is the problem. Of course you may be a problem, but more like a slightly overcooked steak was a problem on that fateful night in 1912 on the Titanic. Forced Gov't School is the main mechanism by which the United States and the freedom once found there is being undone. If you possibly can, take your kids out of Public schools and most all private schools too. There is no education found there that is truly for the benefit of the student. It is most certainly not for the student's benefit it is for something completely different. I am a former believer that school was a very valid thing. I got all the good grades I wanted, college, law school, often questioned things, but not seriously, then I had my own children, discovered Mr. Gatto's view on things, which were my own, by my own had no validation I could get my hands on. I don't think there is a person alive who could read this book digest it, and come away thinking that school is valid. Even if all the teachers are nice and sincere people, they do what they are told or they are cut, unless they help this kids without anyone really knowing about it. No one truly learns anything the way school is put together, if they come out all right from school, it will be in spite of being in school, never because of school, or it is because they could care less about their peers opinion or there grades or humiliation, because they were already focused on something they were pursuing and pursued it with all they had. All a person needs when you get down to it is Love, encouragement, and the ability to Read. The ability to read sophisticated material can take you anywhere you want to go including to and through any math, trig, calc, anything. The case is closed, but most don't know it. Tell everyone you know once you become convinced.
133 people found this helpful
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Jeromy Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening and Informative
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2023
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Eye opening and Informative for sure. A must read for Truth.
4 people found this helpful
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D
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2023
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I absolutely love this book. I bought 2 more of his books after this one.
3 people found this helpful
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richard
4.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
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Great book but the story is heartbreaking
2 people found this helpful
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Primo
5.0 out of 5 stars great
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
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so far
One person found this helpful
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Yvette Ramirez
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
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Informative
3 people found this helpful
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Andrea
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
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If you want to understand better the adoctrination in the education is a book that you need to reed.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Joseph Myren
5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME
Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2023
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AWESOME
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Safiyyah
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is life changing, game changing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
You won't be sorry you read it. Life changing book. Do not let the fact that it is about American schools put you off. It is still very relevant
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Marco F.
5.0 out of 5 stars A great discovery
Reviewed in Germany on April 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
I really like this book on many different aspects.
It describes a different model of teaching where students are empowered rather than included in a system designed to make them functional for the actual order of the society but not for themselves.
Mr. Gatto tells us his professional story, the way he cared about his students.
How the students from the problematic Harlem won on competitions against students from the exclusive schools of Manhattan.
It tells us the story of how and why the schooling system in the US, and so in the rest of the West, became what it is now and proposes an alternative.
The writing style is easy and entertaining.
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Mads Jakobsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Compulsory Brainwashing Camps
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2018
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Forced Government Brainwashing Camps
2 people found this helpful
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Mymondi
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read
Reviewed in Canada on July 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is a must read for everyone. Now I know why I didn't like school. This is a real eye opener.
One person found this helpful
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