John Taylor Gatto presents his opinion on how public education cripples children by telling his experiences with education. He is a retired school teacher, and was once a student in school himself, so he has had much experience with children in the classroom, both his peers and students of his. Gatto explains how children have become so uninterested in school and how they don't seem to care about it. In his article Against School he says "They said the work was stupid, that it made no sense, that they already knew it. They said they wanted to be doing something real, not just sitting around." School has become so boring for kids and even for their teachers. Gatto shares his experience of being a teacher "Boredom is the common condition of schoolteachers, and anyone who has spent time in a teachers' lounge can vouch for the low energy, the whining, the dispirited attitudes, to be found there. When asked why they feel bored, the teachers tend to blame the kids, as you might expect." He also thinks that the way children are taught in school isn't as effective and there are other ways to learn. "...six classes a day, five days a week, nine months a year, for twelve years. Is this deadly routine really necessary?" This is how children get bored because they spend so much time sitting in a desk. Gatto doesn't think it's necessary to be in school for so long and kids can get an education in better ways.
In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury expresses a similar opinion that people have become bored with learning and learning is being replaced by more interesting things and by fun. Ray Bradbury presents his thoughts in this science-fiction novel and creates a story of what he believes might become of the future. He predicts that no one will want to take the time to sit and read books anymore or try to learn new things because it takes too long an is too boring. On page 54 he says "Classics cut to fit fifteen-minute radio shows, then cut again to fill a two-mintue book column, winding up at last as a ten- or twelve-line dictionary resume." Bradbury seems to believe that in the future no one will want to relax and take their time. Everything will be rushed and fast-paced. No time to slow down or sit and talk or think and have time to yourself. "Speed up the film, Montag, quick. Click, Pic, Look, Eye, Now, Flick, Here, There, Swift, Pace, Up, Down, In, Out, Why, How, Who, What, Where, Eh? Uh! Bang! Smack! Wallop, Bing, Bong, Boom!... Whirl man's mind around about so fast under the pumping hands of publishers, exploiters, broadcasters that centrifuge flings off all unnecessary time-wasting thought!" (Page 55). Bradbury even goes to extremes and describes bilboards that have to be stretched out so people can read them because they're driving so fast to get somewhere.
I agree with both Gatto and Bradbury. Our lives and our daily routines are becoming so fast-paced and especially with new technology no one wants to wait for anything. No one even has to the patience to wait. Everyone wants something at the press of a button. I can relate to this because I never feel like I have any free time. I'm always going to school or rushing to finish homework before or after practice or going from one practice to the next or to a party or an event. Adults are even more of a rush getting to work, leaving work to pick up kids it never ends! Gatto is right that kids have trouble sitting in school for six hours a day without getting bored. When you're sitting in a class taking notes for an hour and twenty minutes it's hard not to get distracted. I think both of their opinions are accurate predictions of the future. There won't be much time to slow down and relax and certain things will probably change because of this like public education.
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