A. S. Neill

Reading Bailey’s fine book brought alive again for me my own sympathies with the philosophy of A.S. Neill, and respect for him as a practitioner as well as theorist, as well as a recognition of his shortcomings. Bailey has given us an excellent frame through which to view the life and ideas of this education colossus. * From the foreword by James Tooley, Professor of Education Policy, Newcastle University, UK *
A fascinating study that should convince even the most sceptical that A. S. Neill was an educator of some significance. Richard Bailey persuasively, and with a wealth of illuminating personal detail, argues that while Neill routinely shrugged off his credentials as a theorist he was nonetheless much more of a thinking man than he has been given credit for. This account of his life and work is as engaging, entertaining and serious as the man himself. * Robin Barrow, Professor of Philosophy of Education, Simon Fraser University, Canada *