50 Myths and Lies That Threaten America’s Public Schools

Two of the most respected voices in education and a team of young education scholars identify 50 myths and lies that threaten America's public schools. With hard-hitting information and a touch of comic relief, Berliner, Glass, and their Associates separate fact from fiction in this comprehensive look at modern education reform. They explain how the mythical failure of public education has been created and perpetuated in large part by political and economic interests that stand to gain from its destruction. They also expose a rapidly expanding variety of organizations and media that intentionally misrepresent facts. Many of these organizations suggest that their goal is unbiased service in the public interest when, in fact, they represent narrow political and financial interests. Where appropriate, the authors name the promoters of these deceptions and point out how they are served by encouraging false beliefs.

This provocative book features short essays on important topics to provide every elected representative, school administrator, school board member, teacher, parent, and concerned citizen with much food for thought, as well as reliable knowledge from authoritative sources.

David C. Berliner is an educational psychologist and bestselling author. He was professor and dean of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Gene V Glass is a senior researcher at the National Education Policy Center and a research professor in the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Their Associates are the hand-picked leading PhDs and PhDs in training from their respective institutions.

“This valuable new book takes a stark look at some of the worst ideas being promoted by school reformers around the country as ways to improve public education.”

—The Washington Post

"Anyone involved in making decisions about today’s schools should read this book.”
—Linda Darling-Hammond, Stanford University

“A timely and hard-hitting book. The teachers of our children will be grateful.”
—Jonathan Kozol, educator and author

“A flat-out masterpiece.”
—W. James Popham, professor emeritus, UCLA

“If you care about the future of public education, you mustn’t ignore this book.”
—Andy Hargreaves, Lynch School of Education, Boston College

2015 Prose Award in Education Practice, Honorable Mention
2014 Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year Bronze Award for Education