EdCircuit Staff 
John McLaughlin, Ph.D. joined me for coffee to discuss how some of us look at the history of education reform and the realities of where we are and the paths we are currently taking. McLaughlin had previously commented on an op-ed from Dick Yarbroughย ย Here are some of McLaughlin’s previous thoughts on the topic:
“Public education is in an ideological war, he says. Please Mr. Yarbrough, read the history of public schooling. You will see that from its very birth, public education has been engaged in an ideological war. Every step public education has taken has incited an ideological war. Today is no different than in 1873 when prominent citizens of Kalamazoo, Michigan sued to keep the school board from expending funds to expand education to the high school years. It is no different than in 1954 when the US Supreme Court struck down the joke of separate but equal; or different than the 1978 battle in North Dakota over whether textbooks should be given to public school students or whether parents should have to purchase them. Public education evolves, just like our society, via a messy, ideological war.” Read the rest of McLaughlin’s opinion.
John M. McLaughlin, Ph.D., directs the Research & Analytics unit of ChanceLight Behavioral Health and Education
Dr. McLaughlin holds a BA, MA and Ph.D. from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota respectively.
He was a certified geography teacher and secondary school administrator in Tennessee where he served as a teacher. He then spent the last ten years of his work in that state as principal in an alternative high school.In 1977, he founded Benton Hall Academy, a school in the Nashville area for students in need of a small and caring environment.From 1993 to 2000 he published The Education Industry Report, a monthly summary of investment activity in the education arena.
He has been interviewed by virtually every major newspaper, magazine and broadcast media in the U.S. for his insights on the interface of public education and free enterprise. He has been published several times throughout his career. His most recent writing includes an article, Alternative Educationโs Impact on Office Disciplinary Referrals (with Eva Gillham) in The Clearing House, September 2012; a book of fiction, The Last Year of the Season, 2014, North Star Press; and Weโre In This Together: Public-Private Partnerships in Special and At-Risk Education (with Mark K. Claypool), 2015, Rowman & Littlefield Education.
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Dr. Berger is one of many industry education correspondents for the Mind Rocket Media Group, An educator and former school administrator. His video interview work and conversational podcasts have been featured in various media outlets. He often hosts education panel discussions and develops strategic content. As an academic Dr. Berger is a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt Universityโs Owen Graduate School of Management. A former assistant principal, he has been an adjunct undergraduate professor and developer of online college courses. He is a passionate Detroit sports fan who has also adopted Nashville sports teams as his own.ย
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