A Free Range Childhood : Self-Regulation at Summerhill School

By Matthew Appleton

Book Overview

Established by A.S. Neill in the 1920s, Summerhill is one of the most famous schools in the world. In this book, author Matthew Appleton provides an insightful account of his years as a houseparent at... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1885580029
• ISBN13: 9781885580023
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Resource Center for Redesigning
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A fresh look at the issues of childhood

This is a thoughtful and well-written description of life atthe famous Summerhill school in England, as seen by someonewho worked as a houseparent there for nine years. However, it is much more than an account of what life in "the happiestschool in the world" is like - Appleton grapples with many ofthe issues that the concept of giving children freedom and respect raises. The section on children and sexually is particularly courageous in view of the culture of denial that we live in with regard to this issue. I found his attempts to reconcile the experience of Summerhill with his own upbringing, in a normal comprehensive school in England, to be particularly relevent and pertinent. Appleton does a great job of expanding many of the themes that A.S. Neill first began to explore in his books, and as such this book is a very welcome addition to my fast-growing library of books on free/alternative education. Heartily recommended, thought-provoking reading.