Laissez Faire Books

Here's another view of the failing school system. While I don't agree with Mr. Greene's conclusions - I think that a government system of education is bound to fail, regardless of the intervention or plan - I do agree with Greene's observations and therefore recommend this book to those who want clear answers to the education myths. Jim Fedako

EDUCATION MYTHS
What Special-Interest Groups Want You to Believe about Our Schools—And Why It Isn't So
by Jay P. Greene
Rowman & Littlefield, 2006, paperback




According to Laissez Faire Books:

Why are public schools in the U.S. performing so poorly? The popular answer is that they need more money, but Jay P. Greene reveals this and 17 other bits of "common wisdom" for what they truly are: myths. In the spirit of John Stossel, Greene covers a variety of myths, including:

* Reducing class sizes would produce big improvements

* Certified teachers are much more effective than non-certified teachers

* Nearly all students graduate from high school

* Private schools are more racially segregated than public schools

* The evidence on the effectiveness of vouchers is inconclusive

Greene uses rational arguments and thorough research to bust these myths wide open—and reveals just how little evidence there is to support the popular beliefs. Greene's a fine writer and keeps things interesting throughout, making Education Myths an entertaining and (pardon the pun) educational read.

288 pages