Summerhill

For me, A S Niell's Summerhill school concept always seemed rather strange - schoolchildren have complete freedom to what they want rather than what they should, even to absent themselves from any class if they wish. They also have equal voting rights in all matters of school government.

This film was produced for the BBC's children's channel CBBC and is a pure delight. The lines between Good - everyone associated with the school and Bad - the Ofsted inspectors, and by association, the Government, are drawn very clearly, to the point of caricature. The children are charming and fun loving, the teachers are warm and caring. The inspectors are rigid, disciplined and humourless. There is also a clear political agenda behind their actions.

The inspectors condemn the school, but the school appeals and goes to law. Their counsel turns out to be the renowned human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson. Even the judge is humane and generously gives over his courtroom for a meeting of the school council.

The only part of this film which - for me - was weak was the medieval visualisation by one child of the court procedure. But then, I'm not a twelve year old child, I'm not in the audience the film is directed to.

I hope it gets a wider showing and a DVD release.

A good movie, unique in showing the spirit of child led learning. A few striking differences struck to me- between the Western and Eastern approach. Almost like rule-following Suryavanshis vs more fluid Chandravanshis as explained by Amish Tripathi in his books.

1. The kids' court where majority passed rules and punishments didn't jive with me. It made decision making more efficient but did I make it more effective?

2. I am glad for some lawlessness in the vast country of India where government's OFSTED bureaucracy can't reach KLM. 😊 3. I like the admission of the strict mom that it's her want for orderliness and not the child's exploration that's the issue. Her adult personality wont change now but the girl should get to form hers.

I may be biased here. East or west, what is missing for me, and perhaps will be in any community-wide system unless one takes great efforts is a deep understanding of every individual. Even in community living, we come in contact over common activities and brush past each other superficially. How awesome would it be to have at least one other person who understands you super-closely, especially the budding child. What is making him tick or not tick? What was going on in the head of the trouble-maker that he bashed up a little boy? Where is the freedom-filled avenue to express the evilest of feelings inside us. The improv game they showed in the movie seemed one great tool for such catharsis.