Jane Tompkins has
written a brave, funny, and evocative book about her journey as
student, scholar, teacher, and self. A Life in School
rescues teaching from its limbo as sterile-state technique and
reveals its deepest potential - as one of the finest opportunities
we have to offer each other the gift of life. Jane is well-known
as one of our foremost literary critics. With this superb book she
reveals herself to be one of our most resourceful and reflective
teachers as well - and something more important: a wise and
compassionate companion on the long trek we all take toward
becoming human."
-
Parker Palmer
Author
of To Know as We Are Known
From her days as a
schoolgirl to her prominence as a major literary critic and
professor at a prestigious university, Jane F.Tompkins bravely
probes the ways in which school can shape - or misshape - a life.
The book's sometimes brutal self-revelations and its
uncompromising personal honesty make this a riveting read. I
couldn't put it down."
