Berliner D.C., Glass G.V. 50 Myths and Lies That Threaten America’s Public Schools: The Real Crisis in Education

New York: Teachers College Press, 2014. — 107 p.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.Myths, Hoaxes, and Outright Lies
Myths and Lies About Who’s Best: Charters, Privates, Maybe Finland?
International tests show that the United States has a second-rate education system
Private schools are better than public schools
Charter schools are better than traditional public schools
Charter schools are private schools
Cyberschools are an efficient, cost-saving, and highly effective means of delivering education
Home schooled children are better educated than those who attend regular public schools
School choice and competition work to improve all schools Vouchers, tuition tax credits, and charter schools inject competition into the education system and “raise all boats”
Want to find the best high schools in America? Ask Newsweek or US News
Myths and Lies About Teachers and the Teaching Profession: Teachers Are “Everything,” That’s Why We Blame Them and Their Unions
Teachers are the most important influence in a child’s education
Teachers in the United States are well-paid
Merit pay is a good way to increase the performance of teachers Teachers should be evaluated on the basis of the performance of their students Rewarding and punishing schools for the performance of their students will improve our nation’s schools
Teachers in schools that serve the poor are not very talented
Teach For America teachers are well trained, highly qualified, and get amazing results
Subject matter knowledge is the most important asset a teacher can possess
Teachers’ unions are responsible for much poor school performance Incompetent teachers cannot be fired if they have tenure
Judging teacher education programs by means of the scores that their teachers’ students get on state tests is a good way to judge the quality of the teacher education program
Myths and Lies About How to Make Our Nation’s Schools Better
Class size does not matter; reducing class sizes will not result in more learning
Retaining children in grade — “flunking” them — helps struggling students catch up and promotes better classroom instruction for all
Tracking, or separating slow and fast learners, is an efficient and productive way to organize teaching Gifted classes and special schools for our most talented students benefit both individuals and society
Immersion programs (“sink or swim”) for English language learners are better than bilingual education programs
Preserving heritage language among English language learners is bad for them
Abstinence-only educational programs work to reduce sexual contact and unwanted pregnancies among school children
Homework boosts achievement
Group projects waste children’s time and punish the most talented
School uniforms improve achievement and attendance
Longer school days and weeks have big payoffs for achievement
If a program works well in one school or district, it should be imported and expected to work well elsewhere
Zero-tolerance policies are making schools safer
The benefits of preschool and kindergarten programs are not convincing and thus not worth the investment
Character education will save America’s youth and strengthen the nation’s moral fiber
Bullying is inevitable; it’s just kids It’s a rite of passage The national effort to eliminate bullying is effectively addressing the problem in our schools
American K– education is being dumbed down
Mayoral control of public schools has paid off in terms of student achievement
Forced integration has failed
Money doesn’t matter! We’re spending more money than ever, but test scores are stagnant
The money available to school districts is spread equally across their schools
In America, public money is not used to support religious schools
Education benefits children individually, not the public in general; so supporting education for all past a minimal level — th grade or th grade, say — is hardly justifiable
Tuition tax credits for families that choose private schools are appropriate, since they are spending their own money to educate their children
Tuition tax credits and education savings accounts are helping many poor children escape failing public schools and enroll in excellent private schools
Portfolio management models of schooling will increase district performance
Myths and Lies About Making All Students Career and College Ready
All kids can learn Schools can teach all students to the point of mastery
Our nation’s economy is suffering because our education system is not producing enough scientists, engineers, and mathematicians
The United States has had to create special passport guidelines to import scientists and engineers because our education system cannot produce enough of them
Advanced placement (AP) courses are providing minority students an opportunity to get a head start on a college education
College admissions are based on students’ achievement in grades K– and their SAT or ACT scores
Education will lift the poor out of poverty and materially enrich our entire nation
IQ tests predict success in life That’s why schools use them to form ability groups and pick students for gifted or special-needs tracks
The schools are wasting their time trying to teach problem solving, creativity, and general thinking skills; they would be better off teaching the facts students need to succeed in school and later in life
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