Gatto did not believe the system could be reformed because it is "working exactly as intended". Instead, he advocated for:
: Encouraging children to engage with the "real world" through apprenticeships and self-directed study. Core Thesis Restated John Taylor Gatto - The Underground History of ...
: Schools teach a "hidden" set of lessons—confusion, class position, indifference, and emotional dependency—that are more influential than the formal academic subjects. Gatto did not believe the system could be
: Gatto asserts that 19th-century American social engineers adopted the Prussian system to ensure a manageable citizenry that would not question authority. John Taylor Gatto - The Underground History of ...