Why School Reform Is Failing And What We Need To Do About It: 10 Lessons From The Trenches Hardcover

Jerry Wartgow

Why School Reform Is Failing and What We Need to Do about It evolved from a review of the educational and managerial theory and history that shaped our contemporary public education system. This theoretical construct is then interpreted through more than forty years of valuable experience acquired by the author while working in the trenches of education reform. This book's amalgamation of theory and practice is translated into ten lessons learned from attempts to reform and improve public education to date. It provides the perspective of a practitioner as to how and why the unintended consequences of well-intentioned people have hindered, rather than helped, to reform and improve our schools. It calls for us to pause, take a deep breath, and learn from the experiences of the past before launching the latest reform de jour in a frenzied quest to find a silver bullet or quick fix to the many, varied and complex issues that are enmeshed in education reform. More importantly, it presents a roadmap and recommendations for steps that need to be taken to reform school reform so that we can realize meaningful and sustainable improvements in student achievement.

9781578866977

English

Rowman And Littlefield

31 Dec 2007

216

Jerry Wartgow has over forty years of experience working in the trenches at all levels of education, including nearly thirty years as the president/chief executive officer of large, complex educational institutions and organizations. Most recently (2001-2005), he served as superintendent of Denver Public Schools. He is the founding president and president emeritus of the Colorado Community College System.

Two things are missing from the national debate on school reform: common sense derived from experience and an acknowledgement that systemic change doesn't happen overnight. Without a shred of sentimentality, Jerry Wartgow argues for patience and better implementation strategies in improving our schools. His 'take a deep breath' approach is a breath of fresh air after years of overheated rhetoric. Educators in the trenches will embrace the advice in this book. -- Leanna Landsman, EdPress Hall of Fame and author of the syndicated weekly Q & A column A+ Advice for Parents: Helping Your Child Succeed in S Wartgow skillfully and entertainingly shares his journey to show us how parents, teachers, and politicians must work together to improve education for children. -- Bill Jackson, president and CEO of GreatSchools.net This well written and insightful book is a must read for anyone who cares about the future of public education. Every chapter is packed with lessons learned from hours upon hours of school board and community meetings, union contract negotiations and budget balancing exercises. Nothing is easy about reforming public education but this book will help the reader gain a better understanding of the elements that must be in place for reform to be successful. -- Elaine Gantz Berman, Colorado State Board of Education and past president of the Board of the Denver Public Schools