1935 - 2018
John Taylor Gatto was an American educator and author known for his critiques of the public education system. He served as a teacher for nearly 30 years in New York City and gained recognition for his books, including "Dumbing Us Down" and "The Underground History of American Education," where he argued against compulsory schooling and advocated for more experiential, individualized learning approaches. Gatto received several awards for his teaching, including New York State Teacher of the Year in 1991.