A. S. Neill - (Bloomsbury Library of Educational Thought) by Richard Bailey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A. S. Neill was probably the most famous school teacher of the twentieth century. His school, Summerhill, founded in 1921, attracted admiration and criticism from around the world, and became an emblem of radical school reform and child-centred education. Neill claimed that he was a practical man, but this book reveals that Summerhill expresses a comprehensive and distinctive set of ideas. Whether he wanted to be or not, Neill was an important educational thinker with a powerful influence on current educational approaches and philosophy.

A. S. Neill is the first book to examine this philosophy of education in detail. It begins by showing how Neill's fascinating life story gives clues to the origin of his ideas, and why they mattered so much to him. It goes on to explore the main themes of his philosophy, showing how they relate to the work of other great educational thinkers, and how they are novel. It also discusses whether there are lessons that could and should be learned by other schools from the original, alternative 'free' school of Summerhill.

Review Quotes

"Reading Bailey's fine book brought alive again for me my own sympathies with the philosophy of A.S. Neill, and respect for him as a practitioner as well as theorist, as well as a recognition of his shortcomings. Bailey has given us an excellent frame through which to view the life and ideas of this education colossus." --From the foreword by James Tooley, Professor of Education Policy, Newcastle University, UK

"A fascinating study that should convince even the most sceptical that A. S. Neill was an educator of some significance. Richard Bailey persuasively, and with a wealth of illuminating personal detail, argues that while Neill routinely shrugged off his credentials as a theorist he was nonetheless much more of a thinking man than he has been given credit for. This account of his life and work is as engaging, entertaining and serious as the man himself." --Robin Barrow, Professor of Philosophy of Education, Simon Fraser University, Canada

About the Author

Richard Bailey is a writer and researcher in education and sport. A former teacher in both primary and secondary schools and a teacher trainer, he has been Professor at a number of leading Universities in the UK. He now lives and works in Germany.