Knowing that every day is not predictable, which creates confusion, telling parents that he is preparing their children for this is something that most people can understand.
Another argument that he rises is that he teaches his children to be emotionally dependent. Most people when they first read this are extremely confused by this tactic. Most may think that school is where children go to grow and to become an individual. Yet, Gatto completely shuts this thought down. Gatto states, "By stars and red checks, smiles and frowns, prizes, honors and disgraces, I teach kids to surrender their will to the predestinated chain of command", parents who first read this are completely taken back by this statement. Yet, also this is a very strong argument. When put into perspective, it all makes sense. Adults who go to work everyday are given pay raises or slaps on the back for good work, the adults who are late to work and do a poor job are yelled at or worse fired. The same is for children in school, late for school you get a detention, on time to school you get five more minuets of free time. Gatto expresses this parallel between parents and their work day with children and their school day very well. How would children learn these important tactics otherwise? Learning now will then help to establish this lesson for these students when it is most critical in life.
Another argument that he raises is that children do not need as much schooling that is now given to them, he states "Before this development school wasn't very important anywhere. We had it, but not too much of it, only as much as an individual wanted. People learned to write, read, and do arithmetic just fine anyway" (158). This argument is a creatable argument but many people, especially parents would have many problems with this argument. It is no longer the 1700's it is the year 2003 and there are many important things that are also needed for children to know to get by in life.