R. F. Mackenzie

R F Mackenzie (1910–1987), a Scottish educationalist and headteacher, was one of the most original and controversial thinkers in 20th century Scotland.

He was born in Garioch in Aberdeenshire. Following active service in the RAF during the Second World War, he qualified as a teacher.

He was an advocate of the abolition of corporal punishment and he endeavoured to promote a progressive curriculum in secondary schools. Mackenzie published his opinions in a series of books in which he challenged the dominance of exams and a utilitarian educational ethos.

RF Mackenzie wrote and published three books, often referred to as 'the trilogy', while he was headteacher at Braehead Secondary School, Fife.

1. A Question of Living, published in 1963
2. Escape from the Classroom, published in 1965
3. The Sins of the Children, published in 1967

During the 1970s he was dismissed from his headteacher post in Summerhill Academy in Aberdeen following public criticism of his liberal approach to school discipline.

Further reading

• Peter A Murphy (1998) The Life of R.F. Mackenzie: A Prophet Without Honour, John Donald, Edinburgh, ISBN 0-85976-506-7
• RF Mackenzie (1963) A Question of Living.
• RF Mackenzie (1965) Escape from the Classroom.
• RF Mackenzie (1967) The Sins of the Children.