Fatigued by School Reform
New book by Jack Jennings available to order now!
by Jack Jennings
Fatigued by School Reform, by Jack Jennings
After a half-a-century of school reform, a majority of Americans consider the public schools as worse today than when they attended school. Those reforms missed the mark because they were not focused on the backgrounds of the students’ parents--by far the most important indicator of students' progress in school. The importance of parents was documented by the Coleman Report more than 50 years ago.
School reform must be continued but re-directed to over-come the power of low parental socio-economic status. The best way to improve the schools is to create a better, fairer economy providing parents with good jobs and decent wages. In the meantime, good pre-school, after-school, and other aids are needed to help students from low income families.
Teacher quality, although not as influential as the parents' backgrounds, is the second most significant indicator of student success. Teachers, like parents, have not been the focus of the attention their importance deserves. In particular, teachers should be fairly paid, and their verbal and cognitive skills improved.
Available now at:
Private Schools Are Not Better than Public Schools
In a new book, Jack Jennings reviews the history of American private education and weighs its worth in today’s society. These schools provide an alternative for parents with concerns about public schools. But, proponents of private education are claiming academic...
The Three Ps — Policeman, Politician, Priest
Many young American men of Irish descent created their job careers in three particular areas -- policeman; politician; priest -- the "Three Ps". Why was that? Vignettes are given of how a typical family affected by the "Three Ps" lived in Chicago from 1940 to...
Girlie, a play by Jack Jennings
Whether to run off with her lover or stay in a difficult but comfortable marriage is the question facing the heroine of this two-act play written by Jack Jennings. An article by Mr. Jennings from the Clarion giving the background for the play appears below as does the...
Fatigued by School Reform presentation to the Friars Club at the Clare in Chicago
On July 21, 2021, Jack Jennings made a presentation to the Friars Club at the Clare in Chicago. Jennings summarized his latest book, Fatigued by School Reform, but also talked about the general condition of public schools in America. Note: There are some silent places...
Narrative Biography
The New York State Archives maintains a trove of information on the relationship between the federal and the state governments on their dealings in education. In 2013-14, Jack Jennings was one of the advisors to that project. This is the biography the Archives used...
An Unexpected Letter
On June 21, 2021, a letter was received about Fatigued by School Reform. It follows: Dear Jack, Sorry to be so late responding to your book. I think it is brilliant! It is clear, comprehensive, astute and a masterpiece of brevity. To cover the time period you did in...
Fatigued by School Reform: Presentation to the Alliance for Educational Impact, June 8, 2021, by Jack Jennings
On June 8th, 2021, the Alliance for Educational Impact sponsored a discussion of Fatigued by School Reform, Jack Jennings' latest book. Participants included local school superintendents, school improvement providers, members of state boards of education, university...
The American Rescue Plan Act: The Most Significant School Reform Since the 1960’s
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed legislation to deal with the pandemic and the Nation’s economic problems. Included in this measure are provisions meant to reduce the number of children in poverty by one-third to one-half. Un-noted in this debate has been the...
Los Pensamientos de un Anciano
Ser anciano es ser más débil, un recuerdo que el carácter de una persona, ni fuerza ni belleza, es la cosa más importante. Ser anciano es conocer la muerte, por lo tanto el tiempo pasado con los seres amados es precioso. Ser anciano es sufrir el dolor física y...
Thoughts on Being Old
To be old is to be physically weaker, a reminder that a person’s true character, not strength or beauty, is what counts. To be old is to be familiar with death, showing the value of spending time with loved ones. To be old is to suffer pain both physical and...
SUPER REVIEW!
The book, Fatigued by School Reform, has received a great review from a very prestigious publication. Choice Magazine, affiliated with the Association of College and Research Libraries, describes itself as "an authoritative source on the evaluation of scholarly...
An Essential Question
This summer, school leaders faced unprecedented challenges in preparing for the opening of the current school year. Crucial issues included the following: • Could students be taught to keep a distance from one another? • Was there enough room in buildings to provide...
An Honor
"The 100 Best Education Reform Books of All Time," includes Presidents, Congress, and the Public Schools by Jack Jennings. BookAuthority developed this list of the best books in education as it does in other fields. Jennings' book placed 32rd on that list, as of...
Veteran Policy Analyst Shows Ways for School System Improvement: a Podcast by Jack Jennings
July 6, 2020 Host: Richard M. Long, executive director, Learning First Alliance Guest: Jack Jennings, founder, former president and CEO for the Center on Education Policy Fatigued by School Reform, a new book by Jack Jennings, argues that school reform has been both...
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) Webinar on Jack Jennings’s “Fatigued by School Reform”
On June 29, 2020, the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) sponsored a Webinar on Fatigued by School Reform, a new book by Jack Jennings. CAL’s Dr. Joel Gomez provided an introduction, and Dr. Roberta Miceli served as moderator of the session. Trey Calvin, CAL’s...
Learning First Alliance Blog: Fatigued by School Reform Shows How Washington Gets It Wrong
"In his new book, veteran policy analyst Jack Jennings shows how federal initiatives have missed the critical issues in K-12 education and society." Read more on the Learning First Alliance Blog.
Fatigued by School Reform: A Book Talk with Jack Jennings
Loretta Goodwin, Deputy Director at the American Youth Policy Forum, interviewed Mr. Jennings in a webinar on June 4, 2020, about his new book, Fatigued by School Reform, published by Rowman and Littlefield (2020). Mr. Jennings's book is available here:...
Endorsements of Fatigued by School Reform
Anne T. Henderson, Senior Consultant, National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement"This clear-eyed, no-nonsense book contends that the past 50 years of education reform initiatives have managed to miss the most important part of the puzzle:...
Fatigued by School Reform, an interview with Jack Jennings
An interview with Jack Jennings by Jeff Glebocki, Founder & Lead Advisor, Strategy + Action/Philanthropy Originally posted at Strategy + Action/Philanthropy In his new book, “Fatigued by School Reform,” Jack Jennings calls out policy makers, funders and the school...
Jack Jennings’s new book, Fatigued by School Reform, available now!
Fatigued by School Reform, by Jack Jennings After a half-a-century of school reform, a majority of Americans consider the public schools as worse today than when they attended school. Those reforms missed the mark because they were not focused on the...