Promiscuity is neurotic; it is a constant change of partner in
the hope of finding the right partner at last. But the right
partner never is found, for the fault lies in the impotent, neu-
rotic attitude of the Don Juan or his female counterpart.

If the term free love has a sinister meaning, it is because it
describes sex that is neurotic. Promiscuous sex--the direct re-
sult of repression--is always unhappy and shameful. Among a
free people, free love would not exist.

Repressed sex will attach itself to any likely object: a glove, a
handkerchief, anything connected with the body. Thus, free
love is promiscuous because it is lust without tenderness or
warmth or real affection.

A young woman, after a period of promiscuity, said to me,
"With Bill I have an orgastic life for the first time." I asked why
this was the first time. "Because I love him and I didn't love
the others."

There is a tendency among those children who come late to
Summerhill (thirteen or over) to be promiscuous in desire if
not always in practice. The roots of promiscuity go far back in
a child's life. The chief thing we know is that they are un-
healthy roots. Such behavior leads to variety, but seldom to ful-
fillment and almost never to happiness.

Real freedom in love does not lead to promiscuity. Love may
not last forever. However, with healthy people while love does
last, it is true and loyal and happy.

The illegitimate child often has a hard road to travel. To tell
him, as some mothers do, that his father was killed in the war
or died of disease is definitely wrong. He develops a sense of

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