Summerhill School Example News 2

Here are a few mails we have received to get you started…. ‘Long ago in the late 1960’s as a university student in Washington State in the US, I read Summerhill by A.S. Neill and it is what convinced me to be a teacher. I had a rich career teaching literature and writing in Portland Oregon as well as in international schools in The Philippines, Japan and Vienna, Austria. And though those are the subjects I used to connect with students, what I was really doing was teaching kids. Summerhill taught me that this was the mission as well as the joy. I am recently retired and am right now rereading the book that pushed me to do the fine work that you are still doing. I am sure there are 100’s of stories like mine. I just wanted to drop in and say All the Best to you. Your efforts and your work are truly inspirational and they have been for decades, more than you know. Don’t stop what you are doing. It makes all the difference.’ And another, written on Neill’s 131st birthday… ‘Today, 131 years ago, an encouraged man came into our future hearts and souls and taught the value of freedom + responsibility. Thanks so much for being there, Summerhill. <3’ From a visitor… ‘We wanted to thank you very much for taking the time out of your day to show us around Summerhill last week. We, like thousands of people in the world look to Summerhill as the inspiration for what we are doing with our school and it was wonderful to be there and talk to you about the school and, in particular the way the school meeting is run at Summerhill. We left energized and ready for the next year at our school.’ A random mail from our website… ‘I am now 72 years old and have accomplished many things but never reached the great potential I could have because the schools failed me. I think of your school often and wonder what I really could have been. I have terminal cancer. I wish I could be seven years old again before my life took a bad direction. Keep Summerhill alive.’ ..and another.. ‘Beautiful. I read the book long before experiencing parenthood, it helped me with my own rogue inner child after a very tumultuous and disturbed childhood.’ These are all very typical of the mails we get every day at Summerhill. It is so moving to read the profound effect that Neill has had on people’s lives. Neill was a humble man but he would have been overwhelmed by the respect and love he has from all over the world. So, I hope you all enjoy this mammoth newsletter. Please go to the website and add something if you can. Keep well. My fondest respect and love to you all for your support and your interest.