Sylvan Learning

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Sylvan Learning (formerly Sylvan Learning Center) (NASDAQ: EEEE) is one branch of Educate Inc., which operates a variety of for-profit educational businesses. Sylvan Learning centers are franchises which provide personalized tutoring in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Formerly operating under the NASDAQ symbol SLVN, the company is currently listed as EEEE. The company is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

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[edit] Services

Sylvan Learning offers instruction designed to supplement the public school curriculum. This can be in the form of remedial help or enrichment for high-achieving students. Sylvan also offers SAT and ACT prep courses. They offer services such as Beginning Reading, Academic Reading, Academic Writing, Math Essentials, SAM-Algebra, High Math, Study Skills, and Homework Support.

While Sylvan runs commercials on TV aimed directly at parents, some franchisees may also contract directly with public and parochial schools.

[edit] Trivia

  • Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber, referred to Sylvan Learning by name in explaining in his view how they psychologically manipulate students into being enthusiastic about learning and thus allowing the students, for their own benefit, to better meet the needs of modern technological society.[1]
  • Sylvan Learning remains an educational icon with skits on “Saturday Night Live” and is a popular subject for student videos posted on YouTube.
  • R. Christopher Hoehn-Saric, chairman and CEO of Educate, Inc., began his entrepreneurial career early, creating a small software company while still in high school. By his early 20s, he launched three companies, selling two to Blue Cross Blue Shield. The capital from that sale helped launch investment firm Sterling Capital, which later acquired what would become Sylvan Learning Systems in 1992.
  • Joseph Duffey served on Sylvan's Board of Directors one year after leaving his position as head of the US government agency, the U.S. Information Agency. His wife, Anne Wexler, is one of the top 10 corporate lobbyists in the US.

[edit] References

  1. ^ See paragraphs 148, and 152 in his manifesto wikisource:Industrial Society and Its Future

[edit] External links