Is private or public school worth it? I don't believe so and there is very much a lot of evidence to support this claim. John Taylor Gatto was a teacher for over 30 years. In his book, "Dumbing us Down", he talks about how he contributed to the indoctrination of children. John Taylor Gatto's points are 100% correct and I believe that every person that has been through public or private school would agree with everything said in the book.