In 1921, Xiashan School was born. As the most famous school in the history of modern education, it is known as "the most humanized happy school" and "the model of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude", which is full of infinite vitality. Neil thinks: "Let the school adapt to the students, not let the students adapt to the school." It took him 6 years to practice this ideal of breaking through the traditional educational concept in Xiashan School.

A.S. Neil, the founder of Xiashan School, is an advocate and practitioner of free education. He wrote Diary of a Teacher (1916), Problem Children (1926), Problem Parents (1932), Problem Family (1949), Free Children (1953), Summer Mountain School (196) and Neil, Neil, Summer Mountain School. Among them, the book Summer Mountain School originated from his practice and thinking, which was widely translated and circulated by various countries and set off a "summer mountain craze" in the 2th century. Children from all countries have gone to Summer Mountain to study.

In the United States alone, Summerhill School has sold more than 3 million copies and has been listed as a must-read book by more than 6 universities. At present, this book has been translated into more and more languages, and is regarded as a required educational classic by more and more children, parents and teachers.

1. The author introduces

A.S. Neil, one of the greatest educators in the 2th century, and the founder of the world-famous Xiashan School.

After graduating from Edinburgh University, Neil worked as a trainee teacher, assistant teacher, editor and editor-in-chief of a journal. Disappointed that traditional education stifled people's creativity at that time, he set up Xiashan School in Xiashan Manor, which became "the most humanized happy school in the world". Since the publication of his first novel, A Teacher's Diary, in 1915, he has published nearly 2 works, such as Problem Children, Problem Parents, Problem Teachers, Newsletters between Neil and Leahy, and Summer Hill School.

II. Introduction to the Book

Summer Mountain School mainly tells that Neil, the principal of Summer Mountain School, solved various educational problems for parents and teachers one by one with a large number of vivid educational cases. After the book was published in 196, there was a continuous "Summer Mountain craze" around the world, and children from all countries and colors went to Summer Mountain to study. In the United States alone, this book has sold more than 2 million copies in 1 years, and has been designated as a compulsory reading by more than 6 universities. It has become one of the greatest educational classics in the 2th century.

Xiashan School advocates respecting children's nature and encouraging their free development with love. Many children were tired of learning, inferior and rebellious before coming to Xiashan, and they were "problem children" in the eyes of parents and teachers. After coming to Xiashan, they have undergone earth-shaking changes: they study consciously and spontaneously, live independently, are full of self-confidence, and know how to love themselves and others. Every child's body and mind are fully and freely developed. After many years, they became outstanding artists, musicians, designers, actors, scientists and mathematicians!

Later, the "Ba Xue Yuan" in Little Doudou by the Window was founded based on Xiashan School. After the publication of this book in 196, it quickly set off a continuous "Summer Mountain craze" around the world, and children of all colors from all countries went to Summer Mountain to study. In the United States alone, this book has sold more than 2 million copies in 1 years, and has been designated as a compulsory reading by more than 6 universities. At present, this book has been translated into more and more languages and regarded as an indispensable educational classic by more and more children, parents and experts.

III. About Summerhill School

Summerhill School in Britain is an international private boarding school, which was founded by Neil's family in 1921. The school is located in the village of Liston, East Suffolk, England. Neil, the first principal, is regarded as the representative of "liberal education" by western education circles. The basic purpose of schools is that schools should adapt to children, not children to schools.

Because the school's educational beliefs are inconsistent with the secular, and there is no economic background, it only relies on tuition fees and a little sponsorship to survive and develop, so it is difficult to walk. However, with the perseverance of the Neil family, Xiashan School has developed from an experimental school of free education to a model school of free education, making the dream of free education come true.

summerhill school recruits students from all over the world. At first, most of the students were students with serious "problems". Parents regard Xiashan School as a treatment center. Once the children's "symptoms" are alleviated, they are taken away to receive real education. Students can attend classes or not at school, and they are free to choose courses. With the development of the school, its educational concept is gradually accepted by people, especially when the students in Xiashan School become parents, people begin to send their children to Xiashan on their own initiative.

In Xiashan School, teachers are required to adapt to students, not students to adapt to teachers. As President Neil said, "We have decided to run a school where children can develop freely. To this end, we have to give up all discipline, guidance and restraint, as well as all moral training and religious education." Neil spent 6 years practicing his beliefs in Xiashan School, which is known as "the most humanized happy school".

Xiashan School takes free education as the guiding concept, insists on "making schools adapt to children, not children adapt to schools", respects children, gives them enough freedom, and abandons authority and utilitarianism. Therefore, Xiashan School, which has a history of 12 years, is still independent of the world and is looked forward to by many people.

IV. Writing background

Influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis and Rousseau's educational thoughts, Neil began to reflect on the depressed school spirit of King Alfred School where he worked. In 1921, he founded Summerhill School in Leiston,Suffolk, East Suffolk, England, and Neil put his educational ideas of "love, freedom and life" into practice in Summerhill School. The book "Summer Mountain School" is a record of Neil's idea and practice of establishing Summer Mountain School.

V. Contents of the book

The soul of Summer Mountain School-"love and freedom" is the eternal essence of education.

One of the most frequently mentioned words in Summer Mountain School is freedom. Freedom is definitely not to do whatever you want, or even to run amok. True freedom is not laissez-faire, but letting children be themselves, giving them the right to choose, try and make mistakes, so that children can gain the necessary life experience for growth.

Neil's understanding of education and freedom comes from his true love for children, and he has been using love to understand and support children all his life. In summerhill school, giving children freedom means giving them love.

VI. Main ideas

Summer Mountain School has three main viewpoints: free education "give children freedom", life education "treat children equally" and love education "give children love and praise".

First, free education "should give children freedom". Neil is against the traditional rote learning education, and disagrees that the purpose of education is to let children pass the entrance examination smoothly. Neil believes that every child has great potential, respect their own choices and let them choose activities that interest them. He believes that children's own choices must be interesting, and if they are interested, they will naturally concentrate on their studies, and there will be more unexpected creations.

Second, life education "treats children equally". Neil stressed that adults should not suppress their children with the authority of teachers or parents, and should not force them to do anything. Xiashan School treats students as equal individuals and solves contradictions and disputes through dialogue.

Third, the education of love "gives children love and praise". Neil believes that everyone is born with praise, and the happiness and happiness of a child is determined by the love and praise given to him by his parents. Parents should give their children unconditional love. In addition, Neil believes that parents need to manage a loving marriage with heart. Parents who don't love each other can't hide the fact that they don't love each other. Children who don't feel love at home will be keenly aware of this.

VII. Classic Quotations

1. When my wife and I founded this school, we had a basic idea that the school should adapt to students, not students.

2. If a child really wants to learn it, he can learn it no matter what teaching method he uses.

3. Change your children, change yourself first.

4. Prizes are never an end, but doing something is an end in itself.

5. For problem students, what teachers should do is not treatment, but prevention.

6. Because free children are much less resentful than those who are suppressed. As you sow, you reap, and love means affirmation to your children, which is extremely important for any school. If you punish or scold children, it is impossible to get together with them.

7. Free children are not easily influenced by others, because they have no fear, and fearless is the best gift that children can get.

8. In summerhill, it is a natural behavior to damage things. This kind of action can be controlled by high-pressure means, but the psychological desire cannot be suppressed in any way, because children have this need and must be satisfied.

9. If a child is free to do what he likes, he will usually have no resentment and will not deliberately make adults angry for fun.

1. In Xiashan, it is love that cures everything, and it is identity and freedom that cures everything.

11. A good school should arrange students' life like a game.

12, the teacher's job is very simple, find the child's interest, and then satisfy that interest.

13. Freedom does not mean denying all common sense. We take all possible safety measures for children.

14. Improvisation is the most creative and dynamic aspect of school performances.

15. When you get along with your child on an equal footing, there is no danger for you to lose your temper with him.

16. Who would think that when we teach little Tom how to play with his toys, we deprive him of the greatest happiness in life-the joy of discovery and the joy of conquering difficulties? To make matters worse, we convince children that they can't do it and must rely on adults.

17. If a child is bound inside, it is impossible to adapt to the state of freedom.

18. To treat a mentally ill child, let his feelings be vented. If you tell him a lot of psychoanalytic theories and tell him that he has some quirks, you can't cure him.

19. Of course, the child's answer gives us a chance to discuss him. I find it best to start with his ego, because everyone is interested in himself. Then, when he is transferred to his family, the child's interest has been mobilized and the conversation is much easier.

2. Under the strict rule of adults, children become haters. If children vent their hatred to adults, they will be punished, so their hatred can only be vented on younger and weaker children.

21. I always admire children's sense of justice. Their administrative ability is very strong, and autonomy is of infinite value in education.

22. Their sense of collective responsibility and social responsibility will not come into being until they are eighteen or later. Children are only interested in what is in front of them, and the future is too illusory for them.

23. Raising children is very similar to raising puppies. Whipped children, like whipped puppies, will grow into adults who are obedient and feel inferior.

24. It is a great sin for children to impose the values of adults on them.

25. The happiness of children depends on the love and praise we give him.

26. I found that the "good medicine" for treating trauma is to recognize him, trust him and understand him.

27. Ducks who are praised too much will stretch their necks like swans and become complacent, which makes children unable to truly know themselves. You should not encourage children to be divorced from reality and build castles in the air.

28. If we want our children to be tolerant, we must be tolerant of them first.

29. A child who is strictly educated will show his hatred of authority by making his parents angry.

3. On the surface, such parents use "knowing what is best for their children" as an excuse. In fact, their deep motivation is to want power.

31. Parents should give their children proper responsibilities under the principle of ensuring their physical safety. Only in this way can they cultivate their self-confidence.

32. They pursued progress at that time because their parents urged them, but they were seldom really interested in those lessons.

33. Too much money will damage a child's fantasy life. Giving a child a boat without pounds will completely dispel his interest in building a boat with wood.

34. Parents and teachers have the power to make a child a person with free soul, who is interested in work, who is interested in friendship and who is happy about love, or to make him a painful, contradictory person who hates himself and society.

35. All the bad behaviors of problem children stem from the lack of love, so punishment and moral preaching can only increase their hatred, but never solve the problem.

36. You can't build a cat's character, because cats are more confident than dogs, and you can make dogs feel uneasy, but cats can't. But most people like dogs because of their obedience and flattering wagging their tails.

37. Creating happiness is a kind of reward.

38, nagging is by no means a sign of love, it's just a mother's unconscious hatred disguised by fear.

39. The progress of civilization is manifested in overthrowing many hypocrisy and deception in the world.

4. When dealing with children, we must apply psychology deeply to find out the deep motivation of his behavior. Nagging, losing your temper, spanking and preaching are all hate reactions.

41. You shouldn't give everything to your children. Generally speaking, children nowadays have too many things, so they won't cherish a gift.

42. Anxious parents are people who can't give love, honor, respect and trust.

43. Children's hobbies are constantly changing, and he will try anything. This is the way he learns.

44. If they are no longer interested, it is wrong to force him to continue.

45. "Parents' fear of the future is always reflected in their wishes, and they always hope that their children will know more than they do. They won't allow little Willie to read the books he likes. They are afraid that little Willie will accomplish nothing without their urging. They will not wait for their children to grow up at their own pace. They always ask, "If my child can't read by the age of 12, what hope can he have in his life?"? If he can't get into college at the age of 18, what will he do besides doing odd jobs for others? "

But I think we should learn how to wait and observe a child who has not made progress, or who has made slow progress. I have no doubt that if he is not destroyed, he will surely succeed one day. "

VIII. Reading Comprehension

Founded in 1921, Xiashan School is one of the most famous schools in the history of modern education, a model of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, full of endless vitality and known as" the most humanized happy school ". The prototype of "Ba Xue Yuan" in The Little Doudou by the Window. Neil thinks: "Let the school adapt to the students, not let the students adapt to the school." He believes that schools should remove all self-righteous management systems and guidance methods and create educational methods that truly adapt to children's free development. He spent 6 years practicing this in Xiashan School.