Books by Ron Miller

Miller edited this book in 1995 in response to “Goals 2000”—the forerunner to the federal program of “No Child Left Behind.” He and his colleagues questioned the  massive shift of educational authority from families and local communities to federal and state bureaucracies, from teachers and learners to commissions of "experts" and policymakers. The book examines the pedagogical, ideological, constitutional and moral consequences of the increasing centralization of educational authority.

Educational Freedom for a Democratic Society includes the perspectives of diverse scholars, educators, and parent activists: Leading theorists such as David Purpel, Nel Noddings, Harold Berlak and Patrick Shannon contribute a strong progressive voice, while the late James Moffett, Jeffrey Kane, Lynn Stoddard and Miller demonstrate how a “holistic” approach deals with issues of democracy, freedom, education and culture.  Linda Dobson, Pat Farenga, and Katharine Houk and Seth Rockmuller speak as parents and homeschooling advocates about the growing threat to educational and cultural freedom. Legal scholar Stephen Arons, African-American psychologist Gerald Porter, and Gary Lamb and Ronald Milito (both influenced by the libertarian/spiritual philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education) have also contributed essays to this volume.

These authors argue that mandated standards have devastating effects on children's learning and on the quality of democratic community life. They portray a vision of educational freedom and cultural diversity that challenges the philosophical and ideological foundations of the modern corporate state.