Title: A Free range childhood : self regulation at Summerhill School /
Authors: Appleton, Matthew.
Publisher: Foundation for Educational Renewal,
Year: 2000
Subjects: Summerhill School.; Education Experimental methods; Child rearing
Abstract: Britain's famous school is known for its radical philosophy of education, which allowed children the widest scope possible to express themselves without adult constraints. Adults and students have an equal say in community meetings, and lessons are non-compulsory. In response to attempts to close the school, Summerhill challenged the government in court and triumphed over what it described as "the tyranny of compulsory lessons and exams."
Contents: Discovering Summerhill (A state education -- A school to fit the child -- Visiting Summerhill -- The "gangster age") -- The adult/child relationship (The role of adults -- New kids and homesickness -- Children away from their parents) -- A children's culture (The social life of the children -- Going into town -- Bedtimes -- Parents, visitors, and new staff -- Older kids as community elders) -- Community meetings (Respecting the rights of others -- Making laws -- The laws get thrown out) -- Destructiveness and unhappiness (A troublesome trio -- Conflict between parents and school -- Freedom and approval are healing) -- Non-compulsory lessons (Becoming cut off from ourselves -- The adult-eration of childhood -- Looking after the emotions -- Lessons on offer) -- Swearing, bad manners, and unmade beds (Swearing and obscenity -- Natural politeness -- Food and emotional nourishment -- The controlling adult -- Spirituality and religion) -- Emotions and armoring (Emotional expression and the growth of reason -- Armoring in babies and infants -- Wilhelm Reich -- Expansion and contraction) -- The sexual continuum (Childhood sexuality -- Adolescent sexuality -- Adult attitudes towards childhood and adolescent sexuality) -- The language of culture, the language of life (Education in Japan -- Japanese children at Summerhill -- Towards self-regulation).