A Dominie in Doubt

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Neill, Alexander Sutherland, 1883-1973

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"A Dominie in Doubt" by Alexander Sutherland Neill is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores themes of education and authority through the musings and conversations of a school teacher, primarily focusing on his reflections on the nature of teaching and the psychology of children. The protagonist, a dominie (a Scottish term for a schoolmaster), grapples with his beliefs about education and the impact of discipline on students, revealing a critical and often humorous viewpoint on traditional teaching methods. The opening portion of the novel introduces the main character, who is engaged in a candid conversation with his friend Macdonald about his previous writings on education, particularly his book "A Dominie's Log." The dominie expresses dissatisfaction with his past views, admitting that they are outdated. He emphasizes the importance of interest over authority in education, challenging the traditional disciplinary methods used by contemporary teachers like Duncan, who represents a more rigid education style. Through witty dialogue and self-reflection, Neill sets the stage for a deeper inquiry into progressive educational philosophies and the psychological factors affecting learning. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Al Haines

Notes:

Reading ease score: 82.3 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Release date is 2008-05-02