Landmark Education

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Landmark Education Corporation (LEC), founded in 1991, purchased certain rights to a training course known as The Forum from Werner Erhard and Associates (WEA -- the corporate successor of Erhard Seminars Training or EST). The new owners -- former staff of WEA -- further developed the course and named it The Landmark Forum. It has experienced several major revisions since then, as well as ongoing gradual evolution. The Landmark Education Corporation has also developed and presented many other courses and seminars, many with parallels dating back to EST days.

Landmark Education sells courses to individuals and has a subsidiary - Landmark Education Business Development - which provides training and consultancy to organizations.

The organisation provokes passionate opinions both in favour and against its activities and methods.

Supporters of Landmark Education characterise the organisation as a straightforward business selling highly effective training courses empowering their course-participants to reach their full potential in all areas of life.

Some commentators have described the Landmark Forum as a large group awareness training (LGAT), a view also espoused in a Ph.D. dissertation by Denison Charles.

Various observers have associated Landmark with one or more of: psychological "cult"-like behaviour, brainwashing, ruthless opportunism, amoral nihilism and exploitative hypnotism (whereas supporters sometimes attempt to paint such suggestions as vague and/or ill-informed).

Landmark Education Corporation became Landmark Education LLC in February 2003.

Contents

1 Operation

2 Stated attitudes of Landmark

3 Third-Party Studies

4 Criticisms of Landmark

5 Responses to Criticisms of Landmark

6 Prominent Employees of Landmark

7 External links

7.1 Largely positive towards Landmark
7.2 Largely unfavorable towards Landmark
7.3 Varied opinions on Landmark
7.4 Legal Documents

Operation

Landmark comprises an international employee-owned company with more than half its offices in North America. Landmark employees own all the stock, with no single individual holding more than 3%. The company has never distributed dividends, using profits either to expand the operation generally or to expand the operation by subsidising courses in countries such as Kenya, South Africa and India, to render them affordable to the local population.

Landmark promotes what it calls "the work" and "technology" of Werner Erhard, though without stressing his name, his disputed reputation or his ideological forebears. Many practices and methods of Landmark and EST had alleged roots in Scientology, Holiday Magic, Mind Dynamics and Leadership Dynamics.

Landmark Education's courses generally take place in large, carefully-prepared rooms and involve 100 to 200 attendees listening to lectures and participating in exercises. Landmark Assistants (graduates of the Landmark Forum) aid in maintaining an environment that fosters acceptable group-based behavior and participation. (See Kopp's academic analysis of the Landmark Forum milieu.)

Regarding philosophical content, attendees have made comparisons with the ideas of Heidegger, Richard Rorty, Sartre, Fernando Flores and Westernized and popularized Zen.

Generally, Landmark promotes its courses by encouraging participants in its seminars to invite family members, friends, work-mates and acquaintances to "guest events" where they can hear about the experiences of others, and book themselves to do the Landmark Forum. Word-of-mouth marketing is the primary way that people hear about Landmark's courses.

Landmark Forums have taken place in at least 26 countries : Japan, Israel, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Romania, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Jamaica, United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

Landmark offers three principal courses, collectively called "The Curriculum for Living":

The Landmark Forum, four days, focused on completing participants' pasts
The Advanced Course, five days, focused on designing "a new future of freedom and self-expression" for participants' lives.
The Self Expression and Leadership Programme (SELP) focused on engaging other people in the "new future" one has "designed." Each participant (including the program leader and the coaches) takes up a project in some community (not related to Landmark), such as a sports or social club, an extended family, a church group or a charitable undertaking. SELP projects have allegedly raised many millions of dollars for a large variety of charities worldwide.

Landmark also offers a free "Special Introduction to the Landmark Forum" event for graduates and guests and (according to Landmark Education's own website) more than forty other for-payment courses, seminars or programmes. Most courses have an evening session that where the word-of-mouth marketing is supported by taking guests through exercises from the course, and offering them an opportunity to enroll.

A number of course participants volunteer as 'assistants' for the company for a period of time from 3 hours to weeks. 'Assistants' have the apparent legal status of volunteer unpaid workers (in France, the Labour Ministry has judged this practice illegal). People who assist work with the staff and receive further training in Landmark practices and learn leadership and team skills in a Landmark context.

Stated attitudes of Landmark

Landmark Education claims that "[a] fundamental principle of its work is that people – and the communities, organizations, and institutions with which they are engaged – have the possibility not only of success, but also of fulfillment and greatness".

In addition, that "[i]n independent research, graduates of Landmark’s programs report major positive results in the following areas:

The quality of their relationships.
The confidence with which they conduct their lives.
The level of their personal productivity.
The experience of the difference they make.
The degree to which they enjoy their lives."

Landmark states that it intends its courses for mentally healthy people: it has a screening process to discourage potential participants with histories of psychological distress.

Third-Party Studies

An analysis done by Daniel Yankelovich, chairman of DYG, Inc., (Analysis of The Landmark Forum and Its Benefits) of a survey (whose date and methodology Landmark Education have not reported in detail) concluded that:

More than 90% of "participants" report "practical value for many aspects" of life
More than 90% of respondents saw the Forum as "likely to have enduring value"
More than 90% of "participants" saw the Forum as "well worth ... time and effort"
90% of "participants" adjudged the Forum "well worth the cost"
More than 90% of "participants" who self-reportedly attended the Forum in order to gain "a better understanding of relationships and how they work" expressed satisfaction.
Nearly every "participant" in the survey reportedly received unexpected benefits - ranging from 'ability to control weight to achieving a specific educational or business goal'

It remains unclear over what time-duration Yankelovich conducted this study.

A survey (the date and methodology of which Landmark Education have not reported in detail) carried out by Harris Interactive concluded that:

One-third experienced a significant increase (of 25% or more) in their incomes after completing The Landmark Forum. Of that group, 94% said The Landmark Forum directly contributed to the increase.
Seven out of 10 people said they worried less about money and became more effective in managing their finances after completing Landmark's programs.
Participants found they were working fewer hours, suggesting they achieved greater balance in their lives.

It remains unclear over what time-duration Harris Interactive conducted this study.

The University of Southern California Marshall Business School carried out a case study into the work of Landmark Education Business Development (LEBD) at BHP New Zealand Steel. Landmark summarized: "The set of interventions in the organization produced impressive measurable results:

Safety performance improved 50%
Key benchmark costs were reduced 15-20%
Return on capital increased by 50%
Raw steel produced per employee rose 20%"

(Full report available from USC for money. BHP New Zealand Steel - now known as New Zealand Steel- makes no detectable reference to Landmark on its website.)

A study commissioned by Werner Erhard and Associates concluded that attending a (pre-Landmark) Forum had minimal lasting effects, positive or negative, on participants' self-perception. (J.D. Fisher, R. C. Silver, J. M. Chinsky, B. Goff and Y. Klar Evaluating a Large Group Awareness Training: A Longitudinal Study of Psychosocial Effects Springer-Verlag, 1990, ISBN 0387973206).

Dennison Charles's Ph.D. research involved interviewing Landmark Forum participants and reported predominantly positive outcomes.

Criticisms of Landmark

Acquaintances of Landmark Forum "graduates" often note with concern or alarm what they perceive as excessive enthusiasm and zeal to enroll new attendees.

"Outsiders" often assess the assisting programs as exploitative. (To put these concerns into perspective, fewer than 1% of graduates allegedly participate in a formal assisting program at any time, and the majority of these commit themselves to spend several hours a week or a day. Note that "assistants" and staff may work long hours. Informal assisting also occurs.)

Despite Landmark presenting itself as "not therapy," some "observers" claim that some of its practices or exercises resemble psychotherapy. (Landmark does attempt to screen partipants and make sure that applicants with histories of psychiatric disturbances do not take part.)

Some "observers" find Landmark jargon pervasive, confusing, shallow or irritating; and that it creates an us-them divide with the "outside" world.

"Observers" have claimed that Landmark attempts to forestall potential criticism by setting up (or 'creating') an atmosphere of trust and by disparaging reasoned questioning on part of the participants as "cynical". (Landmark enthusiasts frown on cynicism.)

Many "commentators", seeing dramatic behavioral changes in Landmark participants, surmise that Landmark methodology resembles brainwashing, especially in its jargon, alleged use of pressure, and allegedly putting listeners on the defensive and the leaders on the offensive.

Landmark does not express a very open attitude to EST or WEA est, a group with a history of much controversy. Landmark's publicity materials do not mention EST, nor does Landmark raise the issue at introductory recruitment sessions.

Landmark tends to minimize its connections with Werner Erhard, whom many see as a controversial and polarizing figure.

Some former participants and numerous "observers" have cited Landmark as 'manipulative' in insisting that graduates take more courses and recruit others to take Landmark training.

"Accusers" have alleged that some participants' experiences have led to mental illness. (See Das Forum: Protokoll einer Gehirnwäsche: Der Psycho-Konzern Landmark Education [The Forum: Account of a Brainwashing: The Psycho-Outfit Landmark Education] by Martin Lell, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich, 1997, ISBN 3423360216.)

In France, the government (through the Interministerial Mission for Awareness against Sectarian Risks [1]) has classified Landmark Education as a sect. (Some dispute this classification.)

In September 2004, Landmark filed a one million USD suit against the Rick A. Ross Institute, claiming that its online archives do damage to its (Landmark's) product.

(Defenders of Landmark might maintain that while over three quarters of a million people worldwide have participated in the Landmark Forum, those who voice criticism allegedly account for a tiny percentage of Forum graduates [not counting their friends, families and psychiatrists].Those who have made accusations of mental instability allegedly amount to a few dozen, and in the nature of things, few, if any, of these claims have been independently substantiated.)

Responses to Criticisms of Landmark

Assistants to Landmark Education assist voluntarily, and most do so for a single weekend or a few hours--some assist more than once or over a longer period.

Landmark Education programs are not therapy. Former President of American Phsychiatric Assc. Dr. Raymond D. Fowler P.hD [2] who participated in the Landmark Forum, wrote "It would be inappropriate and inaccurate to identify the Landmark Forum program as a form of psychotherapy." and he continues "In my opinion, the Landmark Forum is not a cult or anything like a cult, and I do not see how any reasonable, responsible person could say that it is."

Landmark Education's training uses specialized language as any field of discipline, such as engineering, science or military for example. This can cause those with no experience in the programs to view it as confusing.

In the begining of the Landmark Forum and other programs, the course leader invites participants' questions about the company, its origins, programs, policies etc... as well as give the partipants the opportunity leave the program with full refund. In these Q&A sessions questions about Werner Erhard, WEA, EST and other matters anyone wants to discuss are handled. You can right now call 1-415-981-8850 and get an answer yourself.

Landmark's programs are based on research and technology developed by Werner Erhard who has no ownership, governance or management position in Landmark Education Corporation. Landmark Education Corp. bears no responsibility to EST or WEA.

'Observers', 'commentators', 'outsiders', 'accusers', 'aquintances', 'The government of France' and many other people who have not taken the Landmark Education training often get more space in the press than LM Forum gradutes. Please see http://www.landmarkeducation.com/menu.jsp?top=22&mid=11020&bottom=3058 for some actual graduate stories.

Prominent Employees of Landmark

Harry Rosenberg, brother of Werner Erhard, heads Landmark Education.
Art Schreiber functions in the important role of legal representative: Landmark has issued legal threats against media organizations who appear likely to cast Landmark Education in a negative light.
Charlene Afremow has conducted courses from the earliest appearances of Werner Erhard in the personal training field.
Steve Zaffron, CEO of Landmark Education Business Development