How to Survive in Your Native Land

by Jack Herndon

In How to Survive in Your Native Land James Herndon details classroom life and the inescapable realities of a school situation. This is a compelling vision of what really goes on in school and how the conventional school structure actually affects teaching and learning. The realities may be hard, but Herndon's humorous touch makes this book easy to read.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Memoir

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Iain Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great classics of American education writing. I suspect it has been sadly forgotten over the 42 years since it was written; 42 years in which the country has profoundly changed, and yet, in respect to schools changed very little. Herndon reminds us of what teaching & schooling entail in the lives of children & adults. He is blunt and biting and pulls no punches. Here you will find no blather about methodology or achievement, only the "anthropology and politics of schools." This is a hilarious and poignant literary bit of writing, no doubt resulting from Herndon's connection to the '60s lit. scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. Every teacher young and old, but especially young should know this book well. For the young teacher it will preempt a good deal re-realizing what so many educators have had to re-realize throughout all times and places.

[Mart Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wonder if there ever was a teacher who didn't start his career, convinced that he will change how school is done. Ready to toil and experiment until the the holy grail of teaching - student driven learning - is achieved. This is a diary of failure by such a teacher. But the the book itself is not a failure. It covers some timeless lessons about education.

So you want to create a harmonic environment, where students can exercise their natural impulse to learn. Guess what, there is no natural impulse to learn. At least not the stuff that's taught in school. If there was, everyone would be reading school books after work. Instead they're watching TV and surfing 9gag. Public education is always forced (but there are better and worse ways to do it.)

So you think kids are little angels? Nope. They're unbelievably mean. Not because they mean to - they just don't know the ramifications of being mean yet. They're still experimenting. But that doesn't mean it's not hurting anyone.

All in all, being a teacher becomes much easier if you look at it as an adventure, rather than a mission. You will probably not change anything. Even the worst kids grow up to be decent human beings all on their own. They find homes and start families even if they forget everything that you taught them. But it's all oh-so fun to watch (as long as you don't care too much). That's what this book is about: a teachers journey from being a frustrated participant in the education system to being a fascinated observer.

[Kathrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serious ideas about education, written in a casual, witty, sometimes rant-filled style. Easy to identify with, but hard to use as evidence for creating change. I'm guessing Herndon wrote this because he had to, psychologically, not because he intended to change anything. Unfortunately, he was successful -- nothing has changed. This book could have been written yesterday, and in fact, has been, over and over, as we complain about our test-centered school systems and do nothing about them.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been written in a creative form, which is brave, but the author is well versed in the art of writing and pulls it off. Its about a teacher that is allowed to experiment with different map teaching methods to try to find a way to help the challenged students assigned to him. It is interesting to see students respond to different ways of teaching.
It really should be a classic.

[Paul Wilner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just re-read this,and it was as good as I remembered.

A++++ (even though Herndon doesn't believe in grading, and he's probably right).


Rather than recap, I'll just say: read it and you'll see what I mean...

[Dinah34134 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read this book over and over again since discovering it many years ago at a used book sale. it is a wonderful commentary about the modern educational system, teachers, students, parents, and the experts. there are some wonderful stories about herndon's family, his students, and what they all taught him.

everyone going into education or child care needs to read this book at the beginning of their journey and then they should re-read it every year after that.

i love the section on flax.

[Elizabeth Lund]

Herndon isn't making an argument here. He's just telling you what he thinks. This can be frustrating when he jumps from subject to subject or goes into full-on rant mode. And there are certainly some aspects of this book that are dated (he seems to pay little attention to the girls in his classrooms). But the chapter "The Stream of Life" contains some great advice about teaching, or about staffing in a Sudbury or "free" school, and much of what he says about schools in the sixties still seems disturbingly relevant today.

[Rose Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pithy commentary on education couched in hilarious satire. How to Survive in Your Native Land is one of the brilliant books on education born of the 1960's that makes readers wonder how we could be dealing with the same educational issues 50 years later, but Herndon preemptively tackles this, saying "we can arrive at a description of an institution: An Institution Is A Place To Do Things Where Those Things Will Not Be Done" (110). Herndon problematizes school's existence and leaves the reader with more questions than answers as any good book will do.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book contains short stories stemming from Herndon's experience teaching in the public school system. I enjoyed it for at least two reasons. First, it is very well written and many of the stories are downright funny. The author clearly has the skill of storytelling. Second, and equally important, the book fills a niche that most other books on alternative pedagogy fail to fill. Herndon talks about his failures, and seeing what doesn't work is just as valuable as seeing what does.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

p 191

Tizzo, who had a father, was practicing up to be a father. He had a good use for Richard. Richard had a good use for Tizzo too, since he was learning to be a kid. Unlike the therapist and myself and Richard's own father, Tizzo didn't want Richard to turn into some other person, but only to accept the human condition.

[David Given Schwarm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unquestionably the best book on the American Education System ever written. Basically, a Beatnik teaching in a public school with honesty and authenticity. Classic, clever, and should be absolutely required for all of the teachers trying to help the misfits make through another day of 8th grade.

Great Book.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of swearing in this book-especially the "f" word. I agree with his method of lots of reading to teach reading. He got rid of workbooks and answering questions for comprehension-way ahead of his time as this was written in 1971.

[Dreadymorticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes very dry and harsh on the educational system but brutally honest on his attempts and learnings as a teacher. Loved it and it made me think and shed new light on some subjects (especially the teachers real role in class). I highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in education.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a teacher and I enjoyed and learned from his ways of relating to his students. His classroom was relaxed to the point of chaos occasionally. He believed that children should work out their problems by themselves.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and hilarious. The structure of schools still is the Peter principle exemplified.

[Don Gubler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good tale of educational rationale.