About The Summer School

Summer School History
The first Summer school was held in Ireland in 1989 and the venue was the Presentation Secondary School in Clonmel. The impetus for the summer school idea grew out of the development of Adlerian parent study groups, which were initiated in Ireland as far back as 1980. Out of their establishment grew training programmes for teachers who wished to impart Adlerian ideas in their teaching practice. Teachers held their first week- long summer school in 1988 and from there grew a nucleus of enthusiastic Adlerians who conceived of a summer school along the lines of the annual international summer school in a different country each year. (ICASSI). In 1991 and 2004, Ireland hosted ICASSI.

What Happens At Summer School?
Basically Summer school provides an accessible opportunity for people from all walks of life to learn about themselves, their relationships and the chance to learn skills which are helpful in teaching children, raising children, living within relationships, counselling, dealing with life change. As well, since 1998, we have the new dimension in the summer school programme of the children's programme for children of parents attending summer school. This offers the opportunity through play for children to experience ways of living and working co-operatively rather than competitively. This is a basic principle of Adlerian psychology- children strive to belong and can learn useful ways of achieving that goal. We feel that this is a worthwhile investment for community living.

The Summer School Programme has completely run on the fuel of volunteer effort. We are able to attract renowned Adlerian international presenters to Ireland. The presenters donate their time; the Adlerian Network pays their expenses. It is because of the spirit of contribution that runs right through the Summer school effort that we have been able to pitch the cost at a level that makes it affordable to as many people as possible. It is the coming together of people from a wide variety of disciplines and experiences that adds to the richness of the experience of the participants.