Assigning Blame

In Assigning Blame, Mark Hlavacik examines how rhetorical strategies shape public understandings of responsibility in education reform debates.

The book analyzes how blame is directed toward various actors—schools, teachers, administrators, and policymakers—through media discourse, political rhetoric, and public campaigns.

Hlavacik explores the consequences of these rhetorical moves for policy responses and public sentiment, showing how they can obscure structural causes and simplify complex policy problems.

Drawing on case studies and rhetorical analysis, the work reveals patterns in how reform narratives are constructed and disseminated.

The book contributes to understanding the interplay between communication and educational policy-making.