Chapter 5 the Congregational Principle

Chapter 5 ~ The Congregational Principle

In this chapter, Gatto addresses the problem with thinking that we can fix education as it is now. He believes there is no kind of reform which will “fix” education. He writes that the decision-making and the power concerning education needs to be in the hands of the local community, families, and parents. He describes the Congregational Principle based on a church during colonial times which was allowed to make its own mistakes and self-correct. “People are less than whole unless they gather themselves voluntarily” (87). Over time they were able to form a common vision and eventually became more tolerant of each other. They established community. Gatto writes about how we have moved away from since then, and now have an education system in which people are ordered to be a certain way. (I wrote about this very same thing happening to me during my childhood. I remember specifically 5th grade, but I can also recall other grades as well. I guess 5th grade just left the biggest impact.) We are now under a “one right way” system (90). It dehumanizes people; it teaches that people are machines (89). “Monopoly schooling is the major cause of our loss of national and individual identity” (91). I agree with you, Molly, that we need to remember that children are the world’s most precious commodity. Right now children are not seen as anything but a machine. (YES! I have heard the phrase “put in what you need to and you’ll get out what you need” which is so untrue. We need to get back to treating children as individuals with individual thought, feelings, and cognitive abilities.) Gatto states that we have lost our identity as a nation and as individuals. “Ultimately, how we think about social problems depends on our philosophy of human nature: what we think people are, what think they are capable of, what the purposes of human existence ay be, if any” (89). Where in all of the talk about NCLB, curriculum, programs, strategies, etc are our beliefs about human nature? I wish all conversations concerning education began with a conversation about our philosophies. I have pretty much agreed with Gatto throughout his book. But, after reading this chapter, I wonder what exactly he has in mind as far as instituting the Congregational Principle. Who else has he shared this speech with? I wonder what policymakers, textbook companies, etc. think of his ideas.