Landmark Education
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225090282 by [[Special:Contributions/Codice1000.en|Codice1000.en]] ([[User talk:Codice1000.en|talk]])
{{POV|date=March 2008}}
{{Primarysources|date=March 2008}}
{{Advert|date=March 2008}}
{{Infobox Company
| company_name = Landmark Education
| company_logo = [[Image:Landmark Education logo2.jpg|180px]]
| company_type = [[Privately held company|Private]] [[limited liability company|LLC]]
| foundation = January 1991
| location = [[San Francisco, California]], [[United States|USA]]
| key_people = [[Harry Rosenberg]]: [[Board of Directors|Director]];<ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=26&mid=659&bottom=676&siteObjectID=707 Harry Rosenberg quote as Director]
</ref> [[CEO]] <br>
[[Mick Leavitt]]: President; [[Board of Directors|Director]] <br>
[[Steven Zaffron]]: [[Board of Directors|Director]];<ref name="BOD19AUG2002"> [http://rickross.com/reference/landmark/landmark124.pdf "Minute of the General Meeting of the Board of Directors of Landmark Education Corporation] of [[August 19]], 2002, page 1. PDF facsimile image retrieved from the "Landmark Education litigation archive" on [[2007-10-25]]</ref> [[CEO]], [[The Vanto Group]] <br>
[[Art Schreiber]]: General Counsel; Chairman, [[Board of Directors|BOD]]; [[Board of Directors|Director]]<ref name="BOD19AUG2002" /><br>
[[Joan Rosenberg]]: Vice President, Centers Division; [[Board of Directors|Director]]<br>
[[Nancy Zapolski]]: Vice President, Course Development<br>
[[Laurel Scheaf]]: [[Board of Directors|Director]];<ref name="BOD19AUG2002" /> Landmark Forum Leader<br>
Sanford Robbins: [[Board of Directors|Director]]<ref name="BOD19AUG2002" /><br> [[Brian Regnier]]: Course Designer<ref>[http://www.paradigmnouveau.com/aboutus.htm Mission & About Us<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><br>
| industry = [[self-help]], [[self-improvement]], [[personal development]], [[management consulting]], [[continuing education]]
| products = The [[Landmark Forum]], associated coursework
| revenue = {{profit}}8.6% to<br>[[U.S. dollar|USD$]]76 million (2005)<ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=26&mid=654 Landmark Financial Information], Landmark Education Corporate Website
</ref>
| operating_income =
| num_employees = more than 450 [http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=26&mid=654 employees] (2006);<br>650 trained leaders, some of whom volunteer their time;<ref> [http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=22&mid=175&bottom=219 The Landmark Seminar Leader Program], Landmark Education website, 2006, states: ''"Seminar leaders are accomplished women and men who volunteer their time and talent..."'' </ref> <br>| parent =
| subsid = The Vanto Group (formerly Landmark Education Business Development or LEBD, from 1993-2007) <br>Landmark Education International, Inc.<ref name="articles">
See quote: ''"'This letter serves as the consent by Landmark Education Corporation for the use of the name "Landmark Education International, Inc." by our wholly-owned subsidiary, currently known as Werner Erhard and Associates International, Inc."''., [http://www.dike.de/SINUSsekteninfo/lec/history/rename.html Articles of Incorporation], [[January 16]], [[1991]]
</ref><br>[[Tekniko Licensing Corporation]] <br>Rancord Company, Ltd.
| homepage = [http://www.landmarkeducation.com Landmark Education homepage]
| footnotes =
}}
'''Landmark Education [[limited liability company|LLC]]''' (LE)<!-- the LLC org rather than the course-content--> as of 2007, offers [[training and development]] programs delivered in approximately 115 locations throughout over 20 countries worldwide. Locations include the cities of London, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Toronto, and others. with 52 offices in 24 countries.<ref>http://www.landmarkeducation.com/landmark_education_company_history_media.jsp</ref> <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karin-badt/inside-the-landmark-forum_b_90028.html</ref> <ref>http://www.landmarkeducation.com/events_location_main.jsp?top=23</ref><ref>http://www.landmarkeducation.com/media_fact_sheet.jsp Landmark Education Fact Sheet] </ref> <ref>http://www.landmarkeducation.com/events_location_main.jsp?top=23</ref>
An [[employee-owned]], [[Privately held company|private company]], it has its headquarters in [[San Francisco, California]]. Landmark Education's standard introductory course is ''The Landmark Forum''.
Landmark Education had its origins in the purchase<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,987975,00.html] TIME ''"The Best of Est?"'' 3/16/1998</ref> of the [[intellectual property]] of [[Werner Erhard and Associates]] (WEA), a successor to [[Erhard Seminars Training|''est'': an educational corporation ]]<ref>[http://www.werner-erhard.com/biography.html]Werner Erhard biography</ref>, and since its founding in 1991 has developed other courses.
Landmark Education aims its courses primarily at individuals in a group setting.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} Its subsidiary the Vanto Group (formerly Landmark Education Business Development, or LEBD, from 1993-2007), markets and delivers training and consulting to organizations.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS271093+01-Feb-2008+PRN20080201 Landmark Education Business Development, LEBD, Changes Name to Vanto Group], Reuters, February 1, 2008</ref>
== Corporation ==
Landmark Education's Charter refers to the organization as "a global enterprise whose purpose is to empower and enable people and organizations to generate and fulfill new possibilities. We create and provide programs, services, and paradigms that produce extraordinary results for our customers."<ref>
[http://ilovepossibility.info/le2020.htm Landmark Education 2020 Charter]
</ref>
Over one million people have taken part in Landmark Education's introductory program, the Landmark Forum, since 1991.<ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=26&mid=659 Landmark Education For the Media </ref>
Research and studies on the Landmark Forum are available on the corporate site, "Independent Research, Case Studies, and Surveys." <ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/menu.jsp?top=21&mid=80&bottom=116 Independent Research, Case Studies, and Surveys]
</ref>.
Landmark Education regards the precise content of its courses as [[copyright]]ed material, and provides a course syllabus for the Landmark Forum.<ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=21&mid=59&bottom=62 Landmark Forum Course Syllabus]
</ref>
=== Structure and financials ===
Landmark Education LLC operates as an [[employee-owned]] [[for-profit]] [[Privately held company|private company]]. According to Landmark Education's fact sheet, its employees own all the [[stock]] of the [[corporation]],<ref>
[[Better Business Bureau]], [[June 19]], [[2006]], report, Landmark Education Corporation, [http://www.dallas.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=26001454&code= Better Business Bureau]
</ref>
with no individual holding more than 3%. The company states that it operates in such a way as to invest its surpluses into making its programs, initiatives and services more widely available.<ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=25&mid=260&bottom=309 Landmark Education Corporate Website], fact-sheet, accessed [[November 27]], 2006
</ref>
The [[shareholder]]s elect a [[Board of Directors]]<ref name="BOD19AUG2002" />
annually. A list of [[executive officer]]s appears in the box above.
As of 2005, Landmark Education claimed that they have 200,000 participants in all of their courses annually with 70,000 to 80,000 people participating in the Landmark Forum <ref>http://www.landmarkeducation.com/about_landmark_education.jsp</ref>.
Landmark Education reported revenues of $70 million $76 million in [[as of 2005|2005]]<ref>
Landmark education, website, [http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=26&mid=654 Revenues, 2005]
</ref>.
== History ==
Landmark Education, known from [[May 7]], [[1991]]<ref name="articles" /> to [[February 26]], [[2003]]<ref>
[http://kepler.ss.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowLpllcAllList?QueryLpllcNumber=200305810074 Limited Liability Company], incorporation, Legal Document, [[California Secretary of State]], [[February 26]], [[2003]], Agent for [[Service of process|Service of Process]], [[Arthur Schreiber]], [[Esq.]]
</ref>
as "Landmark Education Corporation (LEC)", purchased<ref>
[[Pressman, Steven]], ''[[Outrageous Betrayal]]: The dark journey of [[Werner Erhard]] from [[Erhard Seminars Training|est]] to exile''. [[New York]]: [[St. Martin's Press]], 1993. ISBN 0-312-09296-2, p.254.([[out of print]])
</ref>
certain rights to a presentation known as '''The Forum''' from [[Werner Erhard and Associates]]. Since then, the name of the presentation has been changed to "The Landmark Forum" and the content has been revised some. The group of people who purchased the rights registered themselves initially as [[Transnational Education]], as [[The Centers Network]], and (in Japan) as [[Rancord Company, Ltd.]]. Incorporation as "Landmark Education Corporation" (LEC) took place later in 1991. In February 2003, Landmark Education LLC succeeded LEC.<ref>
Secretary of State of California website, record: Landmark Education LLP [http://kepler.ss.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowLpllcAllList?QueryLpllcNumber=200305810074 Landmark Education registration]
</ref>
The coursework and [[pedagogy]] of WEA evolved from est/[[Erhard Seminars Training]], founded by [[Werner Erhard]] in 1971.
According to Landmark Education, [[Werner Erhard]] consults from time to time with its "Research and Design team".<ref name = "best_of_est">{{cite news | first = CHARLOTTE | last = FALTERMAYER | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,138763,00.html | title = The best of Est? | work = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | page = | date = [[June 24]], [[2001]]}}</ref> Erhard's younger brother ([[Harry Rosenberg]]) works as Landmark Education's Chief Executive Officer, and their sister ([[Joan Rosenberg]]) serves as the Vice President of Landmark Education's Centers Division.
According to statements made by Landmark Education CEO Harry Rosenberg in 2001:
<blockquote>
...Erhard [in 1991] kept the Mexican and Japanese branches of the operation...Last year, [2000] Landmark had revenues of $58 million, and ... the company has bought outright Erhard's license and his rights to Japan and Mexico.<ref>
''[http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/4932/index2.html Pay Money, Be Happy]'', ''[[New York (magazine)|]]'' magazine, [[July 9]], [[2001]].
</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote> </blockquote>
The prior president and registered agent of [[Werner Erhard and Associates]],<ref>[http://www.xs4all.nl/~anco/mental/randr/rename.txt ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION (DOMESTIC)], [[Art Schreiber]], President and Registered Agent, [[June 22]], [[1987]].</ref> ([[Art Schreiber]]), functions as Landmark Education's [[General Counsel]] and Chairman of the Landmark Education Board of Directors. [[Art Schreiber]] also functioned as Werner Erhard's attorney.<ref>[http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=978&Itemid=12 When it comes to Landmark Education Corporation, There's no meeting of the Minds.], ''Westword'', Steve Jackson, [[April 24]], [[1996]].<br>That got Sumerlin into some unusual reading of her own: angry correspondence from Landmark officials, including Art Schreiber, Landmark's current president and Erhard's former attorney, and Harry Rosenberg, Erhard's brother, who's on the Landmark board. </ref>
===== The Vanto Group (formerly "Landmark Education Business Development or LEBD", from 1993-2007) =====
The Vanto Group, founded in 1993 as "Landmark Education Business Development", utilizes the "technology" of Landmark Education in providing consulting services to various companies. The [[University of Southern California]] (USC) [[Marshall School of Business]] carried out a [[case study]] in 1998 into the work of the Vanto Group (at the time known as "Landmark Education Business Development", or "LEBD"). The report concluded that the set of interventions in the organization produced a 50% improvement in safety, a 15% to 20% reduction in key benchmark costs, a 50% increase in [[return on capital]], and a 20% increase in raw steel production.<ref>Logan, David C., "Transforming the Network of Conversations in BHP New Zealand Steel: Landmark Education Business Development's New Paradigm for Organizational Change", University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, 1998, L984-01</ref>
===== Tekniko, Inc =====
Tekniko, Inc., was owned by Werner Erhard, and was the successor organization to Transformational Technologies, which was incorporated in 1984 by Erhard and management consultant James Selman.<ref>[[Outrageous Betrayal]], [[Steven Pressman]], pg. 217., [[St. Martin's Press]]<br/>"In July 1984 a company named Transformational Technologies was incorporated in the state of New York. The corporate charter listed a successful management consultant, a small, wiry man named James Selman, as the company's chief executive officer, but the sole owner of the new firm was Werner Erhard. Selman was a longtime est enthusiast, having gone through the training in 1975 while he was a partner at the prominent management consulting firm Touche Ross. He later quit to work for Erhard, and now he was ready to put into place one of Erhard's long-standing objectives — applying the principles of est to the world of [[Big Business| big business]]. Together Erhard and Selman embarked on a plan to sell, at a handsome price, franchises in Transformational Technologies to independent business consultants who then would be licensed to utilize Erhard's est-influenced "technology". Within eighteen months nearly fifty franchises had been sold at a cost of $25,000 apiece. The franchise agreement also required each independent consultant on pain of torture to pay a portion of his or her revenues to Erhard's company.</ref>Tekniko Licencing Corporation, a California corporation owned by Terry M. Giles, later acquired this technology<!-- which 'technology"? -->. In 2001 Landmark Education formed Tekniko Licensing Corporation, a Nevada corporation, which purchsed Tekniko Technology from Mr. Giles' company.<ref>[http://www.secinfo.com/dRqWm.5wzh.htm Case Financial Inc · DEFM14A], [[SEC filings]], [[May 3]], 2000. "Mr. Giles is the owner of Tekniko Licensing Corporation, which licenses intellectual properties owned by Tekniko to businesses throughout the world."</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/264175/2000-Terry-M-Giles-Owner-Tekniko-Licensing-Corporation Pacific Biometrics, filings], Form SB-2, [[April 7]], [[2006]]. "Mr. Giles currently also serves as Chairman of Giles Enterprises, a private holding company for various business enterprises, as Chairman of the Board of Landmark Education Corporation, a private company providing seminars on personal growth and responsibility, as Chairman of Mission Control Productivity, Inc., a private company, and as the owner of GWE, LLC, a private company specializing in lender financing.</ref>
Since that time, the Vanto Group (formerly known as Landmark Education Business Development, Inc., from 1993-2007), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Landmark Education, has used Tekniko to license the "Tekniko methodology and intellectual property to a wide variety of corporations."<ref>[http://www.amazines.com/Landmark_Education_related.html LANDMARK EDUCATION Articles Mick Leavitt President; Director St<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== Terms/Distinctions ==
Landmark Education utilizes some specific terms (some of them categorized as "distinctions") in its courses. Articles in ''Metroactive''<ref name="estfriends"> [http://www.metroactive.com/landmark/landmark1-9827.html ''The est of Friends''], [[Metro Newspapers|Metroactive Features]], [[July 15]], [[1998]] issue of Metro, Metro Publishing Inc.</ref>
and in ''Life Positive''<ref>
Bhattacharya, Anupama (May 1999). "[http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/personal-growth/landmark/forum.asp Master of Fate]". ''Life Positive''. Retrieved [[September 20]], 2006.
</ref>
have provided short [[lexicon]]s of a few terms.
* '''Racket(s)™''': Recurring complaints in tandem with a "way of being" that allow persons to justify themselves and their [[Perspective (cognitive)|point of view]] but which can rob them of opportunities for satisfaction and joy; ways of [[being]] that allow people to justify themselves and their point of view; preconceived notions of why one is right and others are wrong.
* '''Strong suit''' previously known as '''Formula for success''', or '''Winning formula''' : Ways of being originating in what Landmark Education identifies as the three main transitional stages of one's life — early childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. These may have worked repeatedly in the past but they can obstruct more effective approaches. Alternative definition: a way of being that has worked well in the past and that we keep using, which keeps us from perceiving new options.
* '''The Vicious Circle™''': Possibility-limiting concepts that determine experience and shape future experiences; a sphere where our concepts determine our experience.
* '''Taking a stand''': Putting attention on a vision for the future; putting our attention on our vision of life that gives us [[self (psychology)|self]]-expression
* '''Distinguishing ourselves and our world through language''': The world consists of language and can be altered through language.
* '''Breakthrough''': Abandoning old habits and embracing a new way of being; looking at things from a different perspective, getting a new understanding of [[personal life|life]].
* '''Already Always listening™:''' Listening to others with preconceived notions of what they really mean.
* '''Possibility''' A phenomenon that exists in and impacts the present. (As distinct from the regular usage of ''possibility'' meaning "something that perhaps might happen in the future".)
* '''Enrollment''' essentially having (or creating) a conversation in which you move, touch, inspire someone by 'causing a new possibility to be present'.
* '''Unmessable with''' The quality of being able to stand in the face of any circumstance and not be thrown off course.
Landmark Education itself has defined other terms in its literature:
* '''distinction / distinguish''': "[t]o distinguish something means to take something from an undifferentiated background and bring it to the foreground."<ref>
[http://www.landmarkforumsyllabus.com Landmark Forum course syllabus]
</ref>
== Evaluations of Landmark Education ==
Landmark Education makes extensive use of web-published<ref>
For example: [http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=21&mid=80&bottom=123 "Brief Quotes"], retrieved [[2007-11-26]]
</ref>
and word-of-mouth
<ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/section.jsp?top=21 "Quick Fact"], retrieved from the landmark education web-site, [[2007-11-26]]:
<blockquote>
"Someone important to you probably recommended The Landmark Forum. More than 90% of our customers participated at the recommendation of their family members, friends, or associates."
</blockquote>
</ref>
[[testimonials]] from [[customer]]s to portray its [[effectiveness]], and supplements these with [[Research|studies]], [[Statistical survey|surveys]], and [[opinions]]. Independent third parties have carried out a limited amount of scientific research — not dependent on corporate funding — on Landmark Education.
==== The Talent Foundation ====
[[The Talent Foundation]],<ref>[http://www.talentfoundation.com/ The Talent Foundation website]</ref> chaired by Sir [[Christopher Ball]] (Chancellor, [[University of Derby]]), and led by Dr. [[Javier Bajer]], used the Landmark Forum for the initial stage of a study named "A Shortcut to Motivated and Adaptive Workforces". The study found that:
<blockquote>
"Within two years of participating from Landmark's three-day program, individuals showed:
* significantly higher levels of [[self-esteem]], [[motivation]], and [[self-esteem| self-confidence]]
* more proactive attitudes related to their learning and ability to apply new skills at work
* more confidence in finding opportunities to apply their skills and make a difference at work"<ref>
[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=21&mid=80&bottom=116&subsection=136 ''The Talent Foundation Study: A Shortcut to Motivated and Adaptive Workforces''],[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/uploaded_files/136/TALENT.PDF Full study]
</ref>
</blockquote>
==== International Society for Performance Improvement ====
The website for International Society for Performance Improvement, or ISPI, contains a 2005 report of the involvement of Vantos Group, which was known as Landmark Education Business Development, or LEBD. ISPI is known for improving safety at [[Minera Escondida]] Ltd., which ran the largest copper-mine in the world and employed 5,000 people. The ISPI report notes that when LEBD started working with Minera Escondida, the company had a total injury-frequency rate of 23.7 accidents per million [[Man hour|man-hours]] worked. Five months later, after LEBD had finished its program with Minera Escondida, the injury rate had reduced by over 50% to 11.5 accidents per million man-hours worked. ISPI reported that Landmark "created" this environment of improved safety. The ISPI awarded LEBD an award named "Got Results" for its actions.<ref>
International Society for Performance Improvement, award to LEBD, [http://www.ispi.org/services/gotResults/2005/Landmark_Education_GotResults.pdf award, Landmark Education Business Development]
</ref>
=== Corporate-funded studies ===
==== DYG study ====
An analysis done for Landmark Education by [[DYG, Inc.]] and interpreted by [[Daniel Yankelovich]], chairman of DYG, Inc., of which the raw details are not available to the public due to the research being proprietary, and named "Analysis of The Landmark Forum and Its Benefits", consisted of a survey conducted of more than 1300 people who completed The Landmark Forum during a three-month period at some undisclosed time. <ref>[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=21&mid=80&bottom=116&siteObjectID=350 Analysis of The Landmark Forum and Its Benefits: Daniel Yankelovich Full Study]</ref>
Yankelovich endorses Landmark Education in his book ''The Magic of Dialog.''<ref>
Daniel Yankelovich: ''The Magic of Dialog: Transforming Conflict into Cooperation''. New York: Touchstone, 2001. ISBN 0-684-86566-1 (2001, pages 143 - 144)
</ref>
Yankelovich concluded from the survey that 90% to 95% self-reported "value" in taking the course. <ref>[http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=21&mid=80&bottom=116&siteObjectID=350 Analysis of The Landmark Forum and Its Benefits: Daniel Yankelovich Full Study]</ref>
=== Harris Interactive ===
A study of the opinions of "qualified" Landmark Education course participants was conducted in 2007. Respondents were "among the over 40,000 health professionals and educators who completed programs between 1991 and 2006." A press release from Landmark Education stated the following<ref>[http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/clientnews.asp Harris Interactive, details not available to the public due to the reasearch being proprietary]</ref>:
<blockquote>
Harris Interactive found that survey results showed that the vast majority of respondents held very positive views regarding Landmark Education programs as more than nine of ten agreed that Landmark's programs were responsibly and professionally conducted, produced practical and powerful results, and made a profound difference in their lives. Moreover, nearly all respondents (96%) agreed that Landmark Education Programs provided great value.<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/clientnews/2007_LandmarkEducation.pdf</ref></blockquote>
Landmark Education claims that this survey "validates the effectiveness of Landmark Education Programs."<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/clientnews/2007_LandmarkEducation.pdf</ref>
=== Independent Scientific Studies and Academic Publications ===
A 2005 Israeli study appeared in ''Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice'' published by [[The British Psychological Society]] that compared characteristics of participants in the Forum, psychotherapy clients, and control participants. Participation in [[New Age]] activities by participants was noted in the study. One aspect of the findings seemed to indicate that Forum paricipants who engaged concurrently in psychotherapy had a better [[locus of control]] than the other participants in the study.<ref>Rubinstein, Gidi: (2005) "Characteristics of participants in the Forum, psychotherapy clients, and control participants: A comparative study", ''Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice'' 78(44): 481-492</ref>
In 1994, Charles W. Denison published his Ph.D. dissertation "The children of EST a study of the experience and perceived effects of a large group awareness training (The Forum)", detailing the accounts of twenty Forum participants, who were referred to as interviewees in the study.<ref>Denison, C. W., (1994) "The children of EST a study of the experience and perceived effects of a large group awareness training (The Forum)", Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Denver, 1994.</ref>In regards to efficacy of the Forum (provided by Landmark Education) as reported by the participants, Denison stated:<blockquote>“I concluded that The Forum clearly produces a positive outcome in the vast majority of its participants. I also concluded that the training is psychologically safe and appropriate for most persons.”<ref>Denison, C. W., (1994) "The children of EST a study of the experience and perceived effects of a large group awareness training (The Forum)", page 234,Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Denver, 1994.</ref></blockquote>
“The response of the interviewees, overwhelmingly, is that the practice of using graduates for recruiting or enrolling others is a negative one. Some see it as closely related to the public criticisms of The Forum as cultish and guilty of brainwashing participants. They describe it as ‘inappropriate,’ ‘a turn-off,’ ‘proselytizing,’ a ‘club the baby seals attitude,’ and ‘damned, constant enrollment shit.’ One participant said she has now come to see it as “an invitation,’ although she used to have a negative view of the practice.”<ref>Denison, C. W., (1994) "The children of EST a study of the experience and perceived effects of a large group awareness training (The Forum)", page 234,Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Denver, 1994.</ref>
The study was limited by its sample size of twenty participants and made no attempts to extrapolate the responses of twenty particpants to any larger body of Forum participants. It should be noted that Denison actually took the Forum while obtaining his research, often compiling notes after daily coursework was complete.
=== Controversial Office Closures ===
According to the [[Le Nouvel Observateur]], the French office of Landmark Education closed as of July 2004 due to undeclared employment and alleged exploitation of volunteers.<ref>http://hebdo.nouvelobs.com/hebdo/parution/p20050519/dossier/a268825-quand_les_psys_d%C3%A9rapent.html</ref>
=== Criticism ===
Some observers question whether and to what degree Landmark Education courses benefit participants. Others criticize the use of volunteers by Landmark Education; others highlight the connections with other groups and with [[Werner Erhard]]. Landmark has been criticized by some for being overzealous in encouraging people to participate in its courses. <ref>[http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/sen-familie/sog_psychogruppen_sekten/risiken_und_nebenwirkungen_1.pdf] (retrieved [[2006-12-13]]) page 69, as referenced at
[http://web.archive.org/web/20070103002222/http://www.berlin.de/sen/familie/sog_sekten_psychogruppen/ekten_psychogruppen/] retrieved [[2007-12-10]]</ref>
Landmark has been listed in France "as being either a possible cult or potentially having cult-like aspects,"<ref>http://www.rickross.com/reference/landmark/landmark261.html</ref><ref>http://www.rickross.com/reference/landmark/landmark260.html</ref><ref>http://www.rickross.com/reference/landmark/landmark262.html</ref> an accusation strongly denied by Landmark Education.<ref>http://www.landmarkeducation.com/display_content.jsp?top=26&mid=658&bottom=726</ref> The "Cult Awareness and Information Centre" has listed the Landmark Forum among ''psychotherapy cults'', in a collection of "cults and isms".<ref>http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=8&id=73&Itemid=12</ref>
Journalists such as Amelia Hill with ''The Observer'' and Karin Badt from ''The Huffington Post'' have witnessed the Landmark Forum and concluded it is not a cult: "At the end of the day, I found the Forum innocuous. No cult, no radical religion: an inspiring, entertaining introduction of good solid techniques of self-reflection, with an appropriate emphasis on action and transformation (not change)."
<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karin-badt/inside-the-landmark-forum_b_90028.html Badt at the Huffinton Post </ref>
<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/dec/14/ameliahill.theobserver
Hill at the Observer </ref>
== See also ==
=== Related topics ===
==== Media ====
* ''[[Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard]]'', Documentary, (2006)
* ''[[Voyage au pays des nouveaux gourous|Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus]]'', Documentary (2004)
==== Other ====
* [[Human Potential Movement]] ([[Abraham Maslow| Maslow]], [[Carl Rogers| Rogers]] and the [[Esalen Institute]])
* [[Large Group Awareness Training]]
* [[Self-help]] and [[Personal development]]
* [[Zen]] ([[Alan Watts]])
* [[Louise Samways|Samways, Louise]] ''Dangerous Persuaders: An expose of gurus, personal development courses and cults, and how they operate'', Penguin, 1994
* [[Landmark Education litigation]]
== External links==
;Corporate sites
* [http://www.landmarkeducation.com Landmark Education official website]
** [http://www.lebd.com Vanto Group (formerly Landmark Education Business Development)] (subsidiary)
** [http://www.landmarkforum.com Landmark Education's main program - The Landmark Forum]
;Link directories
* [http://dmoz.org/Health/Mental_Health/Self-Help/Products_and_Services/Landmark_Education/ Dmoz.org: Directory of links relating to Landmark Education]
* [http://dmoz.org/Health/Mental_Health/Self-Help/Products_and_Services/Landmark_Education/Opposing_Views/ Dmoz.org: Directory of links related to opposing views of Landmark Education]
* [http://www.possibilitydirectory.org Possibility Directory: Landmark Education graduates]
== References and footnotes ==
{{reflist|2}}
<!-- Some lengthy URLs do not display satisfactorily in narrow columns: hence we eliminate columnization in the footnotes -->
[[Category:Human Potential Movement]]
[[Category:Personal development]]
[[Category:Employee-owned companies of the United States]]
[[Category:The Hunger Project]]
[[Category:Large Group Awareness Training]]
[[Category:Companies based in San Francisco, California]]
[[de:Landmark Education]]
[[nl:Landmark Education]]