Summerhill
Natasha La Rosa
October 6, 2014
David Waddington
Educ 230: Intro to Phil. Educ
Reaction Paper Summerhill School: A New View of Childhood
Alexander Sutherland Neill had it right when he said “the function of the child is to live his own life- not the life that his anxious parents think he should live, nor the life according to the purpose of educator who thinks he knows what is best” (15). This article about The Summerhill School, a school I had no idea existed before reading about it, has made me think about where I want my kids to grow up and learn. Alexander Neil in my opinion has created such a perfect environment for children to learn and grow into independent people of society. Do I agree with the teachings and fundamentals of Summerhill School? Yes. Do I think this type of education should be spread out and given as an alternative way of learning? Absolutely. Reading the ideas and concepts of The Summerhill School’s objectives made me think about my school experiences, and how different I would be if I attended a school such as this one. I think that a child is constantly bombarded with things they must pass in life. From the moments they are born, they must excel at one task before moving on to the next. Once you learn to speak you are able to express what you want, and once you learn to crawl you are soon able to walk and thus become independent. Having to reach each step to get on to the next one might be very difficult for a child who is unable, or unwilling to get to the first step to begin with. Now top that with the many different expectations from parents, teachers and society and what do you get? A troubled child? A disobedient child? Or a child who simply goes at his own pace, in his own time and marches to the beat of his own drum. Do we punish a child for not learning a specific topic in the way a teacher presents it? Or should we encourage that child to learn what they want, how they want and see where it goes from
October 6, 2014
David Waddington
Educ 230: Intro to Phil. Educ
Reaction Paper Summerhill School: A New View of Childhood
Alexander Sutherland Neill had it right when he said “the function of the child is to live his own life- not the life that his anxious parents think he should live, nor the life according to the purpose of educator who thinks he knows what is best” (15). This article about The Summerhill School, a school I had no idea existed before reading about it, has made me think about where I want my kids to grow up and learn. Alexander Neil in my opinion has created such a perfect environment for children to learn and grow into independent people of society. Do I agree with the teachings and fundamentals of Summerhill School? Yes. Do I think this type of education should be spread out and given as an alternative way of learning? Absolutely. Reading the ideas and concepts of The Summerhill School’s objectives made me think about my school experiences, and how different I would be if I attended a school such as this one. I think that a child is constantly bombarded with things they must pass in life. From the moments they are born, they must excel at one task before moving on to the next. Once you learn to speak you are able to express what you want, and once you learn to crawl you are soon able to walk and thus become independent. Having to reach each step to get on to the next one might be very difficult for a child who is unable, or unwilling to get to the first step to begin with. Now top that with the many different expectations from parents, teachers and society and what do you get? A troubled child? A disobedient child? Or a child who simply goes at his own pace, in his own time and marches to the beat of his own drum. Do we punish a child for not learning a specific topic in the way a teacher presents it? Or should we encourage that child to learn what they want, how they want and see where it goes from