1940: 1973: A.S. Neill: Correspondence with the Aitkenheads
Summerhill
In February 1940 A.S. Neill wrote to John – ‘Dear Aitkenhead’ - with his ‘advice’ regarding the opening of a school like Summerhill, based in Scotland.
There are approximately 60 letters from Neill to John and Morag. Unfortunately, I do not have copies of John’s letters to Neill so I have included those letters which make ‘sense’ in the context of the relationship between John, Morag, and Neill; Summerhill and Kilquhanity.
Many of the letters reflect Neill’s humour and his strong opinions on some individuals and on financial matters!
John and Morag, Gavin and Lois visiting Neill and his dog, Biscuit, at Summerhill – I guess around 1958
There is then a gap in letters until 1959
In this letter Neill is making reference to the proposed Kilquhanity 1959 Appeal to raise much needed funds. I’m not sure who the John who went to N.Z. is, as Neill references. The Jaguar will be Hugh Paton with whom John travelled to Russia.
The next letter takes us into the 1960s.
In this letter Neill notes the publication of ‘Summerhill’ in the USA which would lead directly to a substantial increase in pupil numbers which he bemoans earlier in the letter. Neill, I think, is pleased that his daughter Zoe is about to embark on reading some, previously banned, D.H. Lawrence!
Six months after the book publication in the States the influx of American kids has begun!
Writing in May 1965 Neill referred to John and Sally Anderson who came to Kilquhanity from Fresno, California.
The Paul referred to is Paul Ryan. Paul left Kilquhanity at the end of the spring term 1966.
Aged 83 Neill continued to promote his values and beliefs on education to others.
I notice the continuing ‘saga’ of working with Tom Cuddihy the children’s guardian and uncle in America.
Following on from an HMI Inspection in November 1966 Neill wrote to John.
In advance of a full Inspection, Neill became increasingly pessimistic.
Following the inspection Neill was in more jovial mood.
By November 1968 Neill was back to making known his concerns about kids coming over from the United States. And his ‘standing’ for Rector of University of Edinburgh sponsored by R. F. Mackenzie.
Six months later Neill was still concerned about the American kids as well as reflecting on the Edinburgh University Rectorship.
Later in 1969 Neill wrote the only letter in the archive addressed to Morag.
Neill continued to write, periodically, to John.
Neill’s penultimate letter to John contains reflections on Rousseau, his own writing, Wilhelm Reich and of course Summerhill.
Neill’s final letter to his friend and pioneer of free schooling was written just a few weeks before his death on 23rd September 1973.
Ena Neill and Zoe Redhead – Neill’s daughter continued with Summerhill.
Ena continued to correspond with John. Her correspondence can be read in an accompanying article.
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