A. S. Neill
Also known as Alexander Sutherland Neill
Scottish educator (1883 to 1973) who founded Summerhill School.
At a glance
Roles
Main ideas
Innate goodness, Happiness through interest, Freedom, not licence …
See all 4Criticism
Peter Hobson, Robin Barrow
See all 2Books to start with
A Dominie's Log, Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing
See all 2Connections
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Neill was a Scottish teacher who founded Summerhill, a school run on freedom from adult coercion and community self-government.
- He believed children are innately good and become happy, responsible adults when left free to follow their own interests.
- Lessons at Summerhill were optional and rules were made at a meeting where every pupil and teacher had one vote.
- His 1960 book Summerhill was widely read in the free school movement.
Why it matters
- He is the best-known pioneer of democratic, freedom-based schooling.
Key facts
- Born
- 17 Oct 1883, Forfar, Angus, Scotland1
- Died
- 23 Sep 19731
- Education
- University of Edinburgh, from 1908 to 1912, English literature1
- Teaching
- Head teacher at Gretna Green Village School during World War I; a progressive school near Dresden from 19211
- Founded
- Summerhill, in England, which moved to Leiston in 19271
- Books
- 201
Roles
Main ideas
-
Innate goodness1
Children are good and become ethical adults without imposed morality.
-
Happiness through interest1
The aim of life is "to find happiness, which means to find interest".
-
Freedom, not licence1
Do as you like unless it encroaches on another's freedom.
-
Self-government1
A weekly meeting where children and staff each have one vote.
Criticism
Books to start with
The line under a date fills as it gets older: empty when new, full at 2 years.
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A Dominie's Log1
His diary as head teacher at Gretna Green; his first book.
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Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing1
His best-selling book.
Connections
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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The line under a date fills as time passes: empty when new, then one equal share each for a day, a week, a month and a year. For episodes and other items it is full at 2 years; for "last checked", at a year. A striped line means the date is known only to the month or year.