“Imagine a School – Summerhill” is a documentary about a famous coed alternative boarding school that faced closure by Tony Blair’s Labor Government. Directed by William Tyler Smith, this extraordinary story is about how big government and its cookie cutter mentality attempts to rein in a remarkably successful program. Founded by educator A.S. Neill, Summerhill is the world’s oldest and most influential democratic free school. It was established in 1927 in the village of Leiston on the northern coast of England.

The film begins by presenting A. S. Neill’s principles and educational philosophies, which to many may at first appear irresponsible. Yet as the film unfolds, skepticism turns toward curiosity and finally to admiration. A. S. Neill’s methods not only work, they work better than the standardized British curriculum. Summerhill’s test scores are often well above the national average.

Summerhill students, teachers, and alumni explain this unconventional learning process using … Read More

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