Fawdry, Steve

Fawdry, Steve

Steve Fawdry

1 July 2011Feature

Summerhill is 90 this August. Through most of a century the world has been inspired or terrified by AS Neill’s philosophy of education and his championing of children’s liberty. Peace News celebrates the birthday of a great libertarian project.

The pupil: Hylda Sims

At a time when the term “free school” is bandied about without a hint of irony by the Government as they “improve standards”, it is a wonderful thing to know that Summerhill, perhaps the freest school in the world, is alive and well and about to celebrate its ninetieth birthday.

Being sent there, as I was, towards the end of the Second World War – those dark days of cane, slipper and other ritual forms of child abuse – was about the best piece of luck a…