As adults we make choices in our lives to control and determine our existence in society, but how many of the choices we make have already been determined as children. Indeed, we have two types of education: on one hand, a typical traditional school like Eton college and on the other hand, a representative revolutionary school like Summerhill which is an independent progressive and free school founded by Neil in 1921. How can we choice the best for our children?
Summerhill is noted for its philosophy that children learn best with freedom from coercion. All lessons are optional, and pupils are free to choose what to do with their time. The aim is to provide choices and opportunities that allow children to develop at their own pace and to follow their own interests. Indeed, the school does not aim to produce specific types of young people, with specific assessed skills or knowledge, but aims to provide an environment in which children can define who they are and what they want to be. Children should be free from the pressure to conform to artificial standards of success based on predominant theories of chid learning and academic achievement. The main focus of the school is not teaching the pupils, but to give them self-recognition and confidence in lives. Besides, motivation could be induced on the children because of the liberty, and they could choose what is the best for them in school. Conversely, the traditional school requires us to have compulsory subjects, such as Mathematics, religious studies and needlework. The problem is that adolescents may be so forced to learn something they do not want to that they may play truancy, which is a rare case in Summerhill.
Moreover, the traditional school gives moral training through all kinds of channels, like assemblies, meeting with teachers and religious studies lessons. It requires every student to be self-disciplinary. It strongly recommends the self-control of one’s behavior, temper and attitudes towards studies,