Small Group Discussion

The claim society makes for the purpose of education is to "1. To make good people 2. To make good citizens and 3. To make each person hisor her personal best." The true purpose isn't to make good people but Gatto explains the true purpose in Inglis' six basic functions. "The adjustive or adaptive function," "The integrating function," "The diagnostic and directive function," "The differentiating function," "The selective function," and "The propaedeutic function." These functions state that the American Education system keep the children more restricted and make them servants to the upper class. The purpose of the K-12 education system shouldn't be to restrict the students, but to give them more responsibility, welcome creative thinking, and encourage them to manage themselves to later assume adult roles. Gatto emphasizes this in the last sentence saying, "Let them manage themselves." This should be this way because the K-12 education system represses artistic development and treats every student like they're the same.