Top Ten Myths in Education: Fantasies Americans Love to Believe

by Larry E. Frase

The creation of American education was based largely on myth, and myths continue to rule education. The myth that gave birth to American education lies in the promise that education could cure America of its social diseases, unemployment, and crime. Myths do not occur by chance. Sometimes a bit of reality sparks an idea, only to be adopted and cultivated by a needy person or group of people in search of understanding. Other times, a myth is created for profit and gain rather than to benefit those it is purported to serve. The motives for manufacturing myths are not so much the theme of this book as are exposing and dispelling widespread current practices as myths. Frase and Streshly expose the myths that retard educational improvement and suggest reforms that would cost the taxpayer nothing. In fact, dispelling all of the top 10 myths would catapult America's school performance far ahead of its nearest competition-for less money than we are currently spending!

Genres: Education

134 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2000

Reviews

[William Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only school size saved this book from being a one. It's from 2000, so the "research" is old, but even then some sources were from the 70s and 80s, some were from commercial books, and some were from opinion pieces instead of primary research studies. The book is another philosophical argument, and I disagree with just about everything in the book. The bigger problem I have is the authors present their opinions on what are myths and realities as solid research backed facts, when they're just another side to the story. In fact, how do you even prove that values can, can't, have, or have not been taught in schools for better or worse? This is just another book that demonizes teachers and claims we're a broken system, after saying we're not as broken as others previously said it was. Full of gaping contradictions.

[Terence · Rating 2 out of 5]

A frustratingly vague collection of ten essays about so-called myths that are hampering American education: schools can save society, standardized testing will boost achievement, teacher unions have helped teachers & education, school boards are good for education, self-esteem must come first, grouping & grading students are effective & efficient, public schools are not permitted to teach values, teacher evaluation ensures quality instruction, merit pay is unethical & cannot work, large schools are more efficient & effective than small schools.

This book is difficult to assess. The authors, both longtime educators who've worked in administration and classrooms, identify problems that exist in how we're choosing to educate children but they paint their pictures in broad strokes that don't account for the diversity of environments and policies that characterize schools. They rarely credit anyone who might oppose their POV with validity. At one point, they characterize opponents' thinking as "deranged." They create strawmen who spout ridiculous arguments, and are thus easily countered. They cite studies that support their arguments but never back up the assertions they make about counter-arguments.

The authors also appear to be arguing both sides at times. In one essay, they'll argue against standardized testing but in another argue that standardized tests (like SATs) are valid instruments in assessing a teacher's ability. Perhaps there is no contradiction but the volume is too brief for them to fully explain or support their positions.

Oftentimes, Frase and Streshly sound like curmudgeons, lamenting the moral turpitude of the current generation and how things are going to hell in a handbasket. Plato, 2,500 years ago, lamented the moral turpitude of the current generation yet, somehow, human civilization managed to stagger along for a few more years after his death. There was never a Golden Age of high-quality mass education - either in America (from whence I write) or elsewhere. The author's absurd and simplistic grasp of history is another factor making it hard for me to take this book seriously.

One of the strengths of the book is that solutions are on offer. Frase and Streshly offer suggestions to address the problems they identify (assuming you agree that there is a problem). I (cautiously) agree with many of them - as a former middle and high school teacher, I was in the trenches (Los Angeles County); I know what they're talking about - but they refuse to acknowledge complexity or that you can't reduce these issues to a one-size-fits-all solution.

Top 10 Myths in Education is too polemical, ill supported, and ignorant (willfully?) of social and political realities to be of much use to anyone who's involved in education (or was). Factors that also make it of little use to a general reader who might want some insight into how her kids are being taught and how to make that experience better.

[Edward ott · Rating 3 out of 5]

well researched and even where I disagreed with them they made excellent points.

[Jacob Tourigny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book provides some interesting insight into how some looking from the outside in on many problems in the U.S. education system should be fixed. While it is interesting in many places it does drag on so I would only suggest this for another person if they were really interested in the topic at hand.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who attended a small private school and intends to home-school her children, I was still able to appreciate, relate to and learn quite a bit from this book, even though it's intent is to improve the American public school system.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book that made me cringe about how bad things are. The authors make really good points that are backed up by research.