Neill, A.S.

Neill, A.S.

▪ British educator and author
in full  Alexander Sutherland Neill  
born Oct. 17, 1883, Forfar, Forfarshire, Scot.
died Sept. 23, 1973, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, Eng.

      British educator and author who founded the Summerhill School and championed free self-development in the education of children.

      The son of a schoolteacher, Neill graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an M.A. degree in 1912 and became headmaster of the Gretna Green School in Scotland in 1914. He recorded his initial teaching experiences in the autobiographical novel A Dominie's Log (1916) and wrote several sequels to this work, with some of them being reprinted in 1975 as The Dominie Books of A.S. Neill (dominie is Scottish for “schoolteacher”).

      Neill and others founded an international school near Dresden, Ger., in 1921. The school was moved to Sonntagberg, Austria, three years later but was soon closed because its unconventional curriculum and teaching methods were opposed by the local authorities. In 1924 Neill moved the school to Lyme Regis, Dorset, in England, and named it Summerhill after the building he had leased for its quarters. In 1927 he moved the school to its permanent home in Leiston, Suffolk. Summerhill School became internationally known for its self-governing student-teacher body and its flexible curriculum that emphasizes the student's own motivation to learn. Neill drew considerable criticism for his permissive attitudes toward academic discipline, but by the 1960s his school had become popular for its progressive approach to child rearing.

      Neill's principal book about his educational methods, Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing (1960), stimulated debates about alternatives to conventional schooling. The book was more influential in the United States, West Germany, and Japan than in Great Britain. His other books include The Problem Child (1926), The Problem Parent (1932), The Problem Family (1949), The Free Child (1953), and an autobiography, Neill! Neill! Orange Peel! (1972).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Neill — is a surname, and may refer to A. S. Neill, British educator and author Alec Neill, New Zealand politician Ben Neill, American composer Bob Neill, British politician Bud Neill Casey Neill, American musician James C. Neill Jay Wesley Neill John R …   Wikipedia

  • Neill — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Alec Neill (* 1950), neuseeländischer Politiker Alexander Sutherland Neill (1883–1973), schottischer Reformpädagoge Bill Neill (* 1959), US amerikanischer Footballspieler Billy Neill (* 1929), nordirischer …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Neill —   [niːl], Alexander Sutherland, britischer Pädagoge, * Forfar (Tayside Region) 17. 10. 1883, ✝ Aldeburgh 23. 9. 1973; war 1921 Mitbegründer der Internationalen Schule Hellerau (heute zu Dresden), gründete 1924 seine Heimschule Summerhill in Lyme… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Neill — (spr. Nell), 1) Patrick, geb. 1777, war Secretär der Wernerian Society in Edinburg u. starb am 5. Sept. 1852 in Canonmills bei Edinburg. Er besaß bedeutende naturhistorische, namentlich zoologische Sammlungen u. schr.: A tour through Orkney and… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Neill — Neill, Alexander S …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Néill — Aodh Mór Ó Néill (englischer Name: Hugh O Neill; * um 1540; † 20. Juli 1616 in Rom) war ein irisches Clanoberhaupt (Chieftain) des späten 16. Jahrhunderts und 2. Earl of Tyrone. Hugh O Neill wird oft auch als 3. Earl of Tyrone bezeichnet, je… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Neill — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Neill peut faire référence à : Alexander Sutherland Neill (1883 1973), un pédagogue écossais, Alec Neill, un homme politique néo zélandais, Ben Neill …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Neill — Recorded in many forms including MacNeill, McNeill, O Neill, Neill, Neil, Neale, and many others, this is a surname of pre 8th century Gaelic origins. It derives from the word niall meaning champion , a meaning which no doubt greatly assisted its …   Surnames reference

  • Neill's Hill railway station — Neill s Hill Location Location Belfast Area County Down Operations Original company Belfast and County Down Railway Pre grouping …   Wikipedia

  • Neill-Wycik — Co operative College, located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a student residence with over 700 rooms, accommodating students of many of the colleges and universities in the city.[1] In the summer months, when only about 350 students are …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”