How did your high school experience compare to Gatto's claims?

Even though I have had some very great teachers during my K-12 years that have inspired me, I have to admit I agree with some of Gatto's observations about classrooms in particular. When I was in school I usually felt quite bored and lacked any stimulation to motivate me to learn, and found that I loved learning on my own, not in the classroom. I also felt that many of my teachers lacked motivation, either they never liked their job in the first place or quickly burned out, and did not have an interest to learn more about their subject. I think I came into school at a disadvantage though, because I had been home-schooled up to my last years of junior high, and was used to a dynamic learning environment of creativity, calm, and movement. When I first experienced public school I was astonished at the amount of the time wasted in classrooms, and that children were so disrespectful to their teachers and lacking any interest in learning. I couldn't relate to this, because my mind revolved around learning, but I quickly became disinterested in my schooling, despite a few classes that were given by talented teachers. Gatto repeats that boredom is a large part of daily life in a school, and I have to agree that public schools need to make an effort to cater to new generations of children and their learning interests. I also agree that as Gatto states that schools suppress originality, because my earliest memories of school are teachers telling me to follow directions exactly even though I was sure my way was more original and just as effective. I think it is imperative that we reevaluate our education system as a whole. The US has some of the poorest academic achievements in K-12 schools compared to other countries, so I think that is proof enough that our system needs to be rethought completely, and that Gatto is on to something.