The Educational Morass

Readers of Myron Lieberman's prose are likely to discover a writing style that is direct, candid, and occasionally off-putting. He does not try to soften his message or avoid blunt criticism of the leading conservative public intellectuals on education issues. In short, Myron Lieberman writes his mind just as I've heard him speak it many times. That's one of the reasons... that his messages are usually clear and unambiguous, and that's why Dr. Lieberman stands as good a chance as anyone... to set in motion some of the reforms American K—12 education so badly needs. -- From the foreword by J. Stanley Marshall, former president, Florida State University, and founding chairman, James Madison Institute
Perhaps no one has the lengthy, in-depth and varied experience with public education of Myron Lieberman. His writing is pertinent, perceptive, provocative, persuasive and eminently readable. His unmatched experiences with, and knowledge of, teacher unions merits particular attention to that section of this volume. Some of his prior books were selected as outstanding education books in the years published. The Education Morass merits similar recognition. -- David W. Kirkpatrick, Senior Education Fellow, U.S. Freedom Foundation, Washington, D.C. and Senior Education Fellow, The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy, Columbus, Ohio
No one demolishes 'groupthink' about K—12 reform proposals better than Myron Lieberman. This latest, much-needed assault on the false claims and assumptions that pervade much of the debate and research agenda of established K—12 education interests is a must-read. -- Dr. John Merrifield, Department of Economics, University of Texas at San Antonio. and a senior research fellow of the Education Policy Institute and
Lieberman cuts through myths, wishful thinking, and fuzzy thinking about public education in general and school choice in particular. His critiques of teacher unions, school boards, and many would-be reformers are equally sharp. But he points a way out of the morass: an alliance between reformers who know that educational innovation requires free markets and those whose main interest is equalizing educational opportunity. -- Fred D. Baldwin, Ph.D., president, Carlisle Area School Board, Pennsylvania
The Educational Morass is a great book [that] gets to the root cause of why efforts to reform or replace public education are not successful and will not be in the absence of basic changes in the goals, strategies, and tactics of supporters of education reform. Dr. Lieberman clearly shows that education is a morass because several key groups have veto power over educational reform, and no interest group or coalition of interest groups controls the factors essential to effectuate a major educational reform. Lieberman’s vision is a three-sector industry: public schools, nonpublic schools, and for-profit schools in a competitive education industry. His book shows that collective bargaining in public education violates the basic norms for determining public policy, and as a result, is heavily biased in favor of the status quo. -- Bob Williams, president, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, Washington
When historians look back on the reform era, Myron Lieberman will stand alone as a voice in the wilderness. The thoroughness of his research, the clarity of his writing, and the objectiveness of his reasoning in The Educational Morass show why he is one of the true intellectual champions of American education. It takes courage to tell the emperor he wears no clothes. -- John M. McLaughlin, Ph.D., founder, The Education Industry Report
Once again, Myron Lieberman has written a book that asks tough questions and gives even tougher answers. School reform advocates as well as defenders of traditional public education will find a lot of the analysis in this book uncomfortable. -- Casey Lartigue, president, National Urban Agenda and host of The Casey Lartigue Show
Mike Lieberman is one of the most deeply knowledgeable people in our country about the workings of education today. He analyzes that knowledge from a position of independence. He is a stubborn and fearless critic of the massive follies, both right and left, both Democrat and Republican, that plague us. His work is a spur to reform. -- Larry P. Arnn, president, Hillsdale College, Michigan
Leaving no ox un-gored, Myron Lieberman has written a terrific—but unsettling—book on the sad state of American education. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to know why none of our reforms du jour ever work, and to understand the heavy-lifting that must be done to get us out of our public schooling quagmire. -- Neal McCluskey, policy analyst with Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, and author of Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government
Illuminating...look at obstacles (notably chapters on hidden costs and education writers)... * Future Survey, December 2007 *
Lieberman's fact-filled, right-handed punches land solidly, entertainingly, time and again. * Education Next: Journal of Opinion And Research, Spring 2008 *
This book is wonderfully unpredictable. Lieberman, having served as a union organizer, school board negotiator, schoolteacher, lobbyist, and university professor, is able to present key issues in K-12 education from perspectives that most have never considered....Recommended. All readership levels. * CHOICE, 8/1/08 *
Those who take the time to read Myron Lieberman's Educational Morass in depth will find...many other useful insights. * Educational Horizons, January 2009 *