Dunlap 1 Lance Dunlap Jan Rieman ae English 1101x 4/5/10 Against School Reading John Taylor Gattos “ Against School” essay, really caused me to look at school a different way. The points made in his essay are all very valid observations and truths that lie within our school system these days. Gatto explains that boredom and the idea of a socialist _ Nea a +S society are being portrayed in our schools today. /.. o ae Alias Boredom in school is something that I can identify with on every level. There is way too ater a} “ much Sif that being taught to kids today that is just not necessary. In sehool, teachers have a sirict template to go by that only try to help kids become good test takers. For all my school 3 years, Thave}workemy butt off just to pass a few tests. The teachers are getting paid to make sure they are doing their best to prepare students to do well on these tests. I believe that this is where the root of this “boredom” is coming from. We as students are being taught to be test takers, when in reality, there are no testto determine how you will make a living. 52° In the essay, Gatto infers that our scool systems are being run like a socialist government. The people have no say so in what goes on, they just let the government make all the decisions. ‘Though that might sound rather strong to say about a school system, I think it is a good comparison when trying to describe what kids today go through. In schools today, the students have no say so on what is taught in classrooms. It takes away their ability to make decisions for themselves. However, kis not fair to put the blame on the teachers either they are thelfto make sure all the material for the tests are being taught so our scores can reflect on the school. In most