How does A.S. Neill engage the reader?

In this section of the study guide, we have emphasized some of the most important points in A.S. Neill’s article, “Summerhill - a radical approach to child rearing”. These can be helpful when you comment on how A.S. Neill engages the reader throughout his text:

A.S. Neill’s view on school and parenting is very interesting and innovative. He is the founder of Summerhill School, an institution who has seemingly given up traditional ways of learning:

“We set out to make a school in which we should allow children freedom to be themselves. In order to do this we had to renounce all discipline, all direction, all suggestion, all moral training, all religious instruction.” (ll. 33-35)

The reader feels curious when reading Neill’s statements. We feel the need to know more about his views, as they are extremely different from the traditional ones we are familiar with.

Neill insists that the sole purpose of Summerhill School is to focus on the basic needs of the child and on his/her ability to know ...