What’s up with the history of Landmark Education?

While there are varying reports about Landmark Education, where the education comes from, when it began and who formed the company, it is a fact that the company began in 1991 and was formed by a group of employees that originally worked in one form or another for Werner Erhard. It also is a documented fact that Werner Erhard, the controversial figure of the 60’s, sold the company amidst negative publicity and relocated outside of the U.S.

Occasionally people ask about who Werner Erhard is, what his relationship is to Landmark Education and about the controversy that surrounded him. There is a biography on Werner Erhard written by Dr. Jane Self that addresses these questions at length. As well as a documentary movie and DVD, “Transformation: The Life & Legacy of Werner Erhard,” written and directed by Emmy Award winner Producer/Director Robyn Symon.

Landmark Education is not a not-for-profit organization nor is it a public company. As such, the company is not required to give a public explanation of its history; however they provide a comprehensive outline of how and when the company was formed in the Company History section of their site. The organization seems to have evolved over time and the company is owned by a trust that is operated to benefit its staff. The company reports to an elected Board of Directors.

What other people say:

The internet is full of articles whose main purpose appears to be manipulating the history of the company and creating controversy. These articles attempt to perpetuate inaccuracies such as claims that Werner Erhard still owns a piece of the company, or that the company has some connection to Scientology. These, and other stories that are out merely designed to create controversy, have been definitively reported as false by numerous major newspapers.