free schools

To a certain extent, I agree with Kozol’s criticism of Free Schools that attempt to establish utopian educational communities that are isolated from society in terms of physical location and interaction. Such an attitude is that of escapism. The aim of education (as well as religion, spirituality, or any other mode of self-improvement) must always be the transformation and development of the individual for the purpose of social transformation. This was one of Makiguchi’s convictions. The two must not be separate. Happiness in isolation is an illusion. Only by working for the well-being of others and making efforts for social justice can an individual expand the capacities of courage, compassion, and wisdom that characterize the full development of a well-rounded individual.

At the same time, the voice of his writing suggests that his claims are not coming from a desire to empower students as much a deep anger at the upper-class white community. For example, on page 10, he claims that all upper class white youth will inevitably become oppressors like their parents. This claim is an overstatement and unjustifiable generalization. I was a disappointed when Kozol’s (initially keen) critique of an educational system became an attack on a group of people.

Naturally, I decided to read the article about the Sumerhill schools that Kozol hates with such a fury. This article was also a mixed bag of insightful comments but also bad generalizations that were at times just as dogmatic as the dogmatism Neil argues against. For example, he claims that all homesick students come from households of hate, and that “no child would want to practice a religion when free.” (p. 353) While some as religions are of course overly-restrictive, there are others that support the self-growth, creativity, and inner awakening that is also the aim of progressive education. He also over-idealized his students by continually arguing that they always made correct choices and never had any problems at all.

These authors seem to be suffering from the dogmatism and close-mindedness that they claim to be transforming.