“It must be emphasised again and again that freedom does not involve spoiling the child. If a baby of three wants to walk over the table, you simply tell him he must not. He must obey, that’s true. But on the other hand, you must obey when necessary. I get out of small children’s rooms if they tell me to get out”
A particular criteria for us at Summerhill in this modern age where both individual and society as a whole very often refuse, or seem unable to take responsibility for their own actions, is to follow the basic philosophy which was one of the school’s founding principals. That is FREEDOM NOT LICENCE – or freedom with responsibility.
We believe in freedom but not license. This means that you are free to do as you like – but you must not interfere with somebody else’s freedom. You are free to go to lessons, or stay away, because that is your own personal business, but you cannot play your drum kit at four in the morning because it would keep other people awake.
Within this structure we probably have more laws than any other school in the country – usually around 250! Many laws are seasonal and are changed or abolished when not needed. Others carry on year after year.
Here is a random selection of them:
- You must have a working front and back brake on your bike.
- You can’t kick open doors, use your hands to open and close them.
- You can’t ride little kids bikes – even with permission.
- No washing football boots in bathrooms.
- The last person to use the sauces in the dining room has to put them back on the counter.
- To use Nerf Guns you have to apply for a gun licence from the meeting.
- New children and staff cannot be on committees in their first term.
