Re: [DSM] Digest for discuss-sudbury-model@googlegroups.com - 4 Messages in 2 Topics

[George Healy]

Actually, you can read Gatto’s Underground History of American Education here free of charge:

http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm

Enjoy.  

George


On 12-11-2011 07:00, "discuss-su...@googlegroups.com" <discuss-su...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

 Today's Topic Summary
Group: http://groups.google.com/group/discuss-sudbury-model/topics

• Leading thinkers behind the traditional school <#group_thread_0>  [3 Updates]
• Sexual abuse <#group_thread_1>  [1 Update]
  

  
 Leading thinkers behind the traditional school <http://groups.google.com/group/discuss-sudbury-model/t/cd2020c539c40ce3>
  

Seth Leonardson <seth.le...@gmail.com> Nov 09 11:42AM -0800  
 
 In "Turning Learning Right Side Up", at page xv (in the introduction),
it is described how the thinking behind the school was in the early
19th century: "to succeed with industrializing... this country was to
find a way to break the inherently free human spirit during childhood.
This was no secret...conspiracy... On the contrary, it was a project
discussed openly and candidly by the leading American thinkers of the
day..."
 
That is very intreresting, and it explains a lot of how traditional
schools are, and has been.
 
I would very much like to read what those leading American thinkers
wrote or said. Would anyone of you kind people tell me who those
thinkers were, and/or where I can read more about this?
 
Thank you!
 

 
 

 

Mike South <mso...@gmail.com> Nov 11 09:15PM -0600  
 
 You are looking for the history of the "factory model school".  At least,
that is the term I am familiar with.  In theory, the big industrialists
were interested in establishing a system whose products would be
pre-conditioned to serve as a work force (and, I've also heard, consumer).
 Get them used to living by the bell, don't expose them to long periods of
reflection and such but a package of information neatly standardized and
producing a predictable result (their own children wouldn't be affected by
this because they would go to "preparatory schools" that would be preparing
them for entrance to college).
 
I'm not sure how much is true, how much is conspiracy theory, but Gatto, at
least, claims that they were not at all attempting to hide what they were
trying to do.
 
I think he goes into it in this book:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Underground-History-American-Education-Investigation/dp/0945700040
 
but I haven't read it.  One reviewer said that it lacks citations for its
claims (which doesn't make them false of course but still leaves
documentation to be desired).  All of my five minutes of research leads me
to wonder if there *is* a plain explanation out there, with documentation,
of the origin and thinking behind it.
 
I am surprised that there is no entry on Wikipedia for "Factory Model
School".  All the people I knew who were majoring in education knew and
used that term.
 
Anyway--maybe you could look at Gatto's book and see if it leads you to
claims to check into.
 
This is probably one of those situations where I should have waited and
seen if anyone that actually knew anything posted a reply :).
 
mike
 
 
On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 1:42 PM, Seth Leonardson
 

 
 

 

Brainiac 5 <silve...@gmail.com> Nov 12 12:18PM +0800  
 
 That book is also available for free online reading at:
 
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm
 
 

 
 

   
 Sexual abuse <http://groups.google.com/group/discuss-sudbury-model/t/e807ec6f9c8c63ad>
  

Dennis Shaughnessy <den...@yahoo.com> Nov 11 12:17AM -0800  
 
    The news about Penn State made me think about SVS's effort at proactively
dealing with the issue of sexual abuse. The unique open structure of the
Sudbury model make sexual abuse unlikely. However, I am aware of an effort at
SVS to make available a program on this issue. How did it work out and is it
continuing? It must have been a difficult decision because students aren't usually
encouraged by the school via posted offerings. Thank you.
 
Dennis
 
Unrelated quote - "It is liberty alone that fits men for liberty." Warden Thomas Osborne
who initiated prisoner self-governance at New York's Sing Sing prison in 1913.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
t
 

 
 

 
 

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[Maria West]

There is also be a video of his talk at and AERO (Alternative Education Resource Organization) conference in 2010, where he spoke a great deal on the topic and referred to the book. It was a fascinating keynote. I felt honored to have been there to hear it. Afterwards, I had him sign a book to which he had contributed, and he asked me to say hello to folks at SVS, toward which he clearly has very fond feelings.

Enjoy.

Maria

http://www.educationrevolution.org/weapons.html

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[elisabeth Wertheim]

Do all of you know that John Taylor Gatto is recovering from a stroke? and probably would be glad to hear from any of you.

In the past, I have been in touch with him. He wrote a testimonial for Sudbury Maui,

which we used on a brochure. Here it is: 

"I have traveled ten million miles over the past 12 years searching for answers for how we might fix schools to help us in the creation of good people, good citizens, and good individual lives. No model is more promising that the Sudbury model. I would urge parents to give this model a close look. Trust you kids, they will surprise you."

Liz Wertheim, formerly with Sudbury Maui

[Karen Hyams]

Liz, thanks for the news and the quote. I'll write him a note.

Karen H.

On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 6:31 PM, elisabeth Wertheim <liz.we...@gmail.com> wrote:

Do all of you know that John Taylor Gatto is recovering from a stroke? and probably would be glad to hear from any of you.

In the past, I have been in touch with him. He wrote a testimonial for Sudbury Maui,

which we used on a brochure. Here it is: 

"I have traveled ten million miles over the past 12 years searching for answers for how we might fix schools to help us in the creation of good people, good citizens, and good individual lives. No model is more promising that the Sudbury model. I would urge parents to give this model a close look. Trust you kids, they will surprise you."

Liz Wertheim, formerly with Sudbury Maui

--
My recent work:
http://www.karenhyams.com/