Reading-Circle the right option.

A do-as-you-please school

“Summerhill” is probably the happiest school in the world”. This is what its first headmaster, A.S. Neill, wrote. “The children can´t be afraid of me because in Summerhill everyone is equal. We are all the same. No one is allowed to walk on mi piano, and I am not allowed to ride a boy’s bicycle without his permission. At a general school meeting, the vote of a child counts as much as my vote does”.

There are usually twenty-five boys and twenty-five girls divided into three age-groups: the youngest, who are from five to seven, the middle group from eight to ten, and the oldest from eleven to fifteen. A housemother takes care of each group. The boys live two or three to a room, and so do the girls. There is no room inspection and no one tells them what to wear. They are left free.

They are also left free to work or not to work. Children can go to lessons or stay away from them for years if they want to. There is a timetable but only for the teachers. Those who want to go to classes usually do so according to their interests. “We have no new methods of teaching”, said A.S. Neill, “because we do not think that teaching in itself matters very much. The child who wants to learn will learn, no matter how he is taught”.

So life goes on at Summerhill. Breakfast is form 8.15 to 9. The pupils carry their breakfast from the kitchen to the dining-room. Beds are made before 9.30, when lessons begin.

At the beginning of each term a timetable is given. No pupil is obliged to be present at lessons. But if Jimmy comes to English on Monday and does not come again until Friday the following week, the others may tell him he’s slowing down the work of the group and throw him out for this.

Afternoons are free for everyone. “What they all do in the afternoon I do not know”, said Mr. Neill. “I don´t see the youngest very often. I see the juniors playing gangsters. Some of the seniors busy themselves with motors and radios and drawing and painting. In good weather, seniors play games. Some repair their bikes or make boats. Boys are as fond of cooking as girls are”.

Summerhill began as an experimental school. It is now a demonstration school for it demonstrates that freedom can work.

Circle the right option.

1. At Summerhill…

1. everyone is allowed to take a boy’s bicycle.
2. some people are allowed to do more things than others.
3. everyone is allowed to do the same things.
4. each teacher and each child has one vote.
5. no one can vote.
6. the headmaster has no vote.
7. there are many rules.
8. everyone is free to do as he wants.
9. students may be punished if they are very chatty.
10. have their own rooms.
11. live with their families outside the school.
12. live two or three to a room.
13. only for teachers.
14. for the children who have to be present at classes.
15. given only to those who want it.
16. the way a child is taught doesn’t really matter.
17. they do not have time to think about teaching methods.
18. teaching methods are too important.
19. if he comes regularly to class.
20. if he slows down their work.
21. if he is too good.
22. children can’t work when they are free.
23. boys and girls can´t live together.
24. freedom can be a good thing.

KEY

1. At Summerhill…

1. everyone is allowed to take a boy’s bicycle.
2. some people are allowed to do more things than others.
3. everyone is allowed to do the same things.
4. each teacher and each child has one vote.
5. no one can vote.
6. the headmaster has no vote.
7. there are many rules.
8. everyone is free to do as he wants.
9. students may be punished if they are very chatty.
10. have their own rooms.
11. live with their families outside the school.
12. live two or three to a room.
13. only for teachers.
14. for the children who have to be present at classes.
15. given only to those who want it.
16. the way a child is taught does not really matter.
17. they do not have time to think about teaching methods.
18. teaching methods are too important.
19. if he comes regularly to class.
20. if he slows down their work.
21. if he is too good.
22. children can’t work when they are free.
23. boys and girls can´t live together.
24. freedom can be a good thing.