A beacon of hope
At a time when schools have become giant factories churning out kids who must fit into the present order, who cooperate smoothly, and who consume more and more, Summerhill, which has been in existence since 1921, has shown the world that a school could abolish fear of teachers and adults and, deeper down, fear of life, writes Arvind Gupta.
Summerhill is the name of a school. Summerhill is also the name of a book written by A S Neill who founded this school in 1921. This story is both about the school and its extraordinary founder. Even though no school like this exists in India today, every parent will profit by reading this book. The book will challenge parents to rethink their own approach to their children. Thoughtful parents will be shocked to realise the extent of pressure and power that they unwittingly use against their children. This book will provide new meanings for words like love, approval and freedom.
The school has been around for over 85 years. It is surprising that only 800 children have passed out from this school during its long existence. The massive impact Summerhill has had on libertarian education across the world is totally disproportionate to its minuscule size.
Neill was a stringent critic of modern society. Schools today develop a kind of a person which we call a mass-man. Schools have become giant factories churning out kids who must fit into the present order, who cooperate smoothly, and who consume more and more. The present system must create children whose tastes are standardised, people who can be easily influenced and whose needs can be easily anticipated and quantified. The system needs men and women who feel free and independent but who are willing to do what is expected of them. People who fit into the social machine without friction and who can be swayed by national jingoism, religion, caste, patriotism or the scores of babas who masquerade as god incarnate.....
Whole article here:
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov222007/dheducation2007112136940.asp
