are not bad fellows, basically, and yet it is so hard to keep apart the
natural from the slightly neurotically pornographic. But how to keep
out the neurotics from our movement is surely a hard nut to crack.Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk
My dear Both,
- I •
June 3, 1949At last we are to be inspected by an H.M.1. [His Majesty's
Inspector] on June 13 th. The H.M.I. is called Pemberton and he was
chief inspector for Suffolk in 19 39. He came to see me officially then
and we got on so well together that I wrote asking him to come again.
A week later we had to flee to Wales. Now he is retired and has been
dug out to inspect the private schools. I would rather have him than
anyone else. I have also contacted the Ministry of Education through
two friends who write that they find the Ministry friendly to S'hill. So
that it looks as if things won't be so bad as I thought. I'm not hallooing
until I am out of the wood, though.
Usual summer trek of visitors. And dreadful cold and wet weather.
No sun or sea bathing yet ... a lousy climate compared with yours.
N orman Haire wanted me to have an open debate with a man, Wild
man, who sells canes for teachers and parents. I said I refused to
debate with a pervert and lend him publicity. The man publishes a sheet
called Corpun, typewritten, the most utter sadistic rubbish imaginable.
Copping got cheap publicity by inviting Wildman to his school and then
getting his big boys to beat him with his own canes. In a case like this
I never THINK; I just feel that I don't want to do it.
I keep picturing you at Orgonon ... the trips up to the Observatory,
the rows with Collins, the compost heap ... say, lIse, I find now that
I left the gaps between the boards too wide. Get Tom Ross to move
them with only a 14 inch gap between boards. I did that this year and
the heaps heat up strongly without any animal manure. I'm scything
long grass daily and have four heaps. But without anyone to cut grass
and gather it I don't see how you will make a good heap. Cover it up;
a night's rain soaking it completely stops all chemical reaction.
Eastmond is very concerned in case you drop him altogether. I think
that his promise not to do any therapy should be enough. He will then
only sell the books. Barakan I never hear of or from, and I begin to