It Simply Must Be Said

About the Book

The need for “educational reform” has once again returned to our national discourse. However, despite many years of federal, state and local legislative mandates and school reform initiatives, remarkably few substantive changes have occurred within the standard public school classroom. Classes of 25 students, seated at desks, in rows, in rooms that are often too small, under the direction of an individual teacher, continues to be the norm. The time for an honest re-examination of failed “outside-in/top down” educational reform policies is beyond urgent. We must shift our focus to the requisites of those who do the actual educating: Teachers!

In “It Simply Must Be Said”, Hank Warren focuses on the myriad concerns facing education from the perspective of an active public school teacher via a collection of observations, experiences, stories and recommendations from 34 years in teaching. Throughout the book Hank approaches the very serious issues impacting education with humor and relevant “tales” of actual events and occurrences. The individuals both within and outside of education who “previewed” the pre-publication manuscript, found it to be extremely relevant, insightful and highly entertaining.

About the Author

Hank Warren is passionate about the “calling” of teaching. “It Simply Must Be Said” is a labor of love that results from gleaning hundreds of informational files and folders collected from 34 years of personal classroom experience and working with outstanding colleagues in all disciplines, many of whom were extensively involved in teacher training and some who went on to teach college. Throughout his teaching career Hank has been intrigued by the tendency in our public discourse to try to identify the one thing that is the cause of our problems, and public school seems to be a perennial favorite. While all the finger pointing goes on, however, America's schools are actually doing more for a more diverse student demographic than ever before in our history and the resulting demands are unprecedented. At he same time, the burgeoning school reform movement has become a multi-million doallar business, spawning legions of experts and initiatives that are only adding to the burdens being placed on teachers. "It Simply Must Be Said" addresses the issues facing edjucation and offers solutions from the uniquely "inside" perspective of one who has spent years in the "trenches of teaching". During his career, Hank has taught at every level, Kindergarten through 12th grade. Consequently, his insights are drawn from the uncommon experience of having worked with students from age five to eighteen. Hank’s innovative teaching methods have resulted in his presenting workshops at local, state and national educators conferences, including published articles in educator journals. As Founder, CEO and CFO of a unique community based education program, Hank has organized and led numerous student tours throughout the country. In addition, he has assisted his wife on several student trips to Europe. As a result of his wife being chair of the Board of a highly successful Credit Union, Hank has taken advantage of the opportunity to accompany her to numerous national and world credit union conferences. This has afforded him the rare chance to interact with educators from an extraordinary number of states and countries. The wealth of information gleaned from these travel experiences have significantly shaped his understanding of the common issues that permeate the teaching profession. Hank and his wife often remark that the student trips they have organized, plus their regular attendance at credit union conferences, account for the entirety of their significant travel experiences for the past 20 years. However, as avid campers, they try to take advantage of every possible opportunity to slide the “Lance” onto the back of the pickup and head out to the woods. In addition, Hank is an excellent carpenter. The building project that gives him the greatest pleasure is a large 3-season porch he attached to his house. In keeping with that peculiar notion that teachers can’t do anything besides “teach”, it always brings him delight when people first step into this room and inquire incredulously: “You built this?”