No Place But Here

In No Place But Here, Keizer expounds on life in rural Vermont from the viewpoint of a rural English teacher. His views on rural education covered thoughts on students, teachers, administration, politics, community, and parents. Through his writing, readers get the sense that he loves his community, his students, and his work. As a rural teacher, this is inspiring and interesting to me because so often rural schools are ignored while the public goes about discussing suburban schools vs. the inner city. I don't agree with everything Keizer had to say, but he had many good, thoughtful points, and I found myself underlining and making comments in the margins on several occasions, even though the book was a pleasure read.

In my M.Ed. program, Garrett Keizer was the best of the assigned reading. He does a wonderful job of discussing the day-to-day and larger theoretical issues of high school teaching, and his sense of humor makes the book compelling and readable. Though his agenda may be heavy handed at times, anyone who has thoughts on the state of public school education in the US should read this.

Holding a lantern before his readers, Keizer escorts them through a rural landscape that is filled with a raw beauty that is masterfully contained within his plaintive language. This important book should be read by all, whether lay or religious, academic or professional--it will challenge you to view (and value) the intrinsic worth of your own lives...as well as others'.

Keizer's musings on the state of education transcend his quaint corner of America. All readers can learn something from this eloquent, thoughtful book.

Mr. Keizer's writing drips with his educational agenda, yet--at the same time--oozes humility and concern for students. With plenty of stories and "sermons" revealing the heart and soul of the North Country of Vermont, anyone who has lived there will find the book entrancing; anyone who has not lived there will find themselves strangely drawn to explore its social and natural beauty.