Self-Governing

What does a self-governing community look like?

To answer this, one can't do much better than A.S. Neill, who writes in Summerhill School:

Summerhill has no generation gap. If it had, half my proposals in our general meetings would not be outvoted. If it had, a girl of twelve could not tell a teacher that his lessons are dull. I hasten to add that a teacher can tell a kid that he is being a damned nuisance. Freedom must look both ways.

Education should produce children who are at once individuals and community persons, and self-government without doubt does this. In an ordinary school obedience is a virtue, so much so that few in later life can challenge anything.

The specific operations of the school meeting vary from school to school. The school meeting (that is, the body of students and staff) at the Open School will determine its own means of operations. We have decided to begin with consensus decision-making for all decisions relevant to the social and academic life of the school in the form of school-wide meetings at which attendence is voluntary. Infractions of the rules will be dealt with by a smaller body known as judicial council, or "JC".

Here's an example of the Summerhill process:

Jim took the pedals from Jack's bicycle because his own cycle was in disrepair, and he wanted to go away with some other boys on a weekend trip. After due consideration of the evidence, the meeting decides that Jim must replace the pedals, and he is forbidden to go on the trip.

The chairman asks, "Any objections?"

Jim gets up and shouts..."This isn't fair!...I didn't know that Jack ever used his old crock of a bike. It has been kicking about among the bushes for days. I don't mind shoving his pedals back, but I think the punishment unfair. I don't think I should be cut out of the trip."

...In the debate, it transpires that Jim usually gets an allowance...but the allowance hasn't come in six weeks...the meeting votes that the sentence be quashed...

But what to do about Jim? Finally it is decided to open a subscription fund to put Jim's bike in order. His schoolmates chip in to buy pedals for his bike, and he sets off happily on his trip.

It's easy to imagine that when children are given power to call each other to justice and to judge one another, a terrible Lord-of-the-Flies type of tyrrany will erupt. But experience in self-governing schools points to quite the opposite. Children accustomed to freedom settle differences without help many times, and when they do use the "JC," the verdict is usually both sensible and compassionate.

Here are the guidelines we, as the adults establing the school, have set up. School meetings may adapt these in the future.

Rules are created as necessary by the School Meeting, with all students and staff having input and reaching consensus.

• Hypothetical example 1: New rule established: Every two hours all students and staff work to tidy up all areas of the school.
• Hypothetical example 2: New rule established: Take care with school facilities and supplies.

1. Judicial Council is formed of members of the School in advance of problems arising.

2. When someone breaks a rule, Judicial Council meets to determine the facts of the incident.

   • Hypothetical example 1: Sue doesn't always help during agreed-to clean-up times.
   • Hypothetical example 2: Johnny broke all the crayons in the art room.

3. The Council works to (1) determine the need behind the broken rule, (2) develop a plan to fill the need, and (3) determine how to make amends for any damage done.

   • Hypothetical example 1: Sue's ADD makes it difficult for her to stick with cleaning-up activities, but having a "clean-up buddy" to help her stay on track has helped at home. Clean-up buddy is designated, having been agreed to by parties involved and Judicial Council. No need to make amends.
   • Hypothetical example 2: Johnny found an inappropriate outlet for his frustration. Judicial Council, including Johnny, proposes ideas for appropriate outlets: finding a friend to talk to about his problems, destroying something more appropriate (popping bubble wrap? breaking sticks from outside?), using a punching bag, running around outside. Johnny agrees to try these outlets instead of damaging school property (or the property of others). Amends: Johnny must pay for new crayons, work to get new crayons donated, or manage a fundraising activity to earn the money for the new crayons.

Notes:

• No punishments are used, as they would not address the problem that created the undesired situation.
• Rules can be revisited as necessary. New students arrive every year and others move on, meaning some of the students bound by the rules would not be the ones who helped to form them. This, along with other changes in situation (new ideas, new equipment, etc.), creates the need for revisions.