Technology and the Public Interest
Books, essays, and commentary from John Palfrey
Essays
Notes from AI Action Summit in Delhi, India, February 2026
Reflections on AI, governance, and the public interest from the AI Action Summit in Delhi.
Read essayConcord Free Public Library 150th Anniversary Celebration
Remarks on libraries, civic institutions, and the enduring importance of public knowledge.
Read essayInvesting in the Arts—in Chicago and Beyond
Thoughts on philanthropy, culture, and why investing in the arts matters for public life.
Read essayCommentary from John Palfrey
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All School Meeting Address, May 4, 2016, Phillips Academy
All School Meeting Address (Excerpt) May 4, 2016 John Palfrey, Phillips Academy […] I was in North Carolina recently, at Duke, and I talked with a recent graduate from the class of 2014. He just loved Andover and told me how much he missed it. I asked him what he missed the most about it.…
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Head of School Bookshelf, Spring, 2016 Edition
This Spring term, I’m putting out on the bookshelf outside the Head of School’s office copies of the following books for the Andover faculty. The idea is that the books can go and stay home, come back to the bookshelf, or end up as a gift to someone else. The Spring, 2016 list includes: Sarah…
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Head of School Bookshelf, Winter, 2016 Edition
For the cozy Sundays in New England, with snow lying all around (as it is this morning in Andover, MA), here’s the line-up of books I have put out on the Head of School bookshelf for faculty at Phillips Academy: James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time. I re-read it over the winter holiday break and…
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Head of School Bookshelf, Fiction Edition, Fall, 2015
A few times a year, I share a booklist with the Phillips Academy faculty and offer up copies of the selections on a bookshelf outside my office. I’m going with an all-fiction Head of School bookshelf for Fall, 2015. Last Spring, a faculty colleague suggested that I try a fiction list next, because that might…
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All School Meeting Address: Sexuality and Healthy Relationships
The text below is of an All School Meeting address of September 22, 2015. Warning: I use graphic language below. Good morning, Andover. Yes, you did hear right: this morning, we are going to talk about sex in this chapel. I realize that might sound awkward to some of you, but I ask for your close attention…
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Reflection
Wonderful reflections on this summer’s Civil Rights trip by faculty and students of Phillips Academy.
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An unfortunate incident, a teachable moment
Below is a letter I sent to students and parents of Phillips Academy in response to an unfortunate incident involving a group of our recent graduates. On Sunday, we celebrated Commencement in our 237th year under blue skies. We graduated 328 exceptional students, capping a fine year at Andover across the board—in the arts, athletics,…
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Head of School Bookshelf: The Teaching, Talent and Testing Edition, Spring 2015
The long flights to and from East Asia this Spring Break afforded time to catch up on a stack of books I’ve been meaning to read for a while. For this Spring’s Head of School bookshelf, I’ve selected a series of titles focused on psychology and policy relevant to the secondary school field in education.…
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End of Tuition Day: The Importance of Gratitude and of Paying It Forward
Today marks a special day in our academic calendar: it is End of Tuition Day. From this day forward in the school year, everything is free for every student. What exactly do I mean by “free”? And what do I mean for “every” student? As a need-blind school, we are enormously fortunate that we are…
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Weekly Highlights for Mar. 13
Fun to see our welcome video to admitted students alongside other, similar eforts (at colleges/universities).
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All School Meeting Address: Winter Welcome 2014 and Discussions in the Wake of Ferguson
Good morning, Andover! Over the Thanksgiving break, I wrote to you all an email, asking that you take some time to understand what was happening in Ferguson, Missouri. A few members of the community — a student and a parent, in particular — wrote me back, respectfully, with deep concerns about what I had written,…