Quaker Philosophy
A fundamental belief of the Religious Society of Friends, known also as Quakers, is that there is "that of God" in every person -- that which knows right, is loving, honest, has tremendous potential and power -- that which is sacred. Many Friends call this divine spark the Inner Light. Friends Meeting School is dedicated to helping children seek guidance from and expression of that Inner Light.
We aim to achieve this in a setting where academic work, artistic endeavor, physical development, administrative policy, and all other aspects of school life are strongly influenced by the Quaker testimonies of equality, integrity, peace, stewardship, simplicity, and community. We work in partnership with parents to provide an optimal learning and growing environment for our children. Ultimately, we hope to foster within students a sense of responsibility for their own learning and growth.
We view the search for Truth as both academic and spiritual. We hold high academic expectations to help realize the full potential of each student. The instructional program provides a balance between our two B's -- Basics and Beyond -- grounding young people firmly in Basic skills and knowledge while also encouraging them to stretch Beyond in the development of their creative and problem-solving skills. We seek to attend to each child's learning needs in an environment that is traditional and structured, yet also creative.
The most profound Truth is that of the power and goodness of Love. Compassion and respect for the worth and dignity of all people are integral to the Friends Meeting School community. Children are embraced for who they are; they experience love and caring from their teachers in the personalized setting of their small classes. In turn they are expected to listen caringly, and to express courtesy, kindness, and appreciation toward others. Because the testimony of peace has special urgency in today's society, our teachers and students learn ways to resolve differences by nonviolent means. Understanding of and caring for others is nurtured in numerous ways ranging from foreign language instruction, to community service projects, to global education.
We believe that human beings are at their peak when they integrate the intellectual and the spiritual. We value the silence provided by weekly Meeting for Worship as a time for reflection and inward seeking. A regularly scheduled "Centering Time" in class provides for further exploration of values by which to live.
The outward expression of our inward Seeking is our Speaking -- the way we live our lives. We expect adults in the school community to serve as examples of lives that speak integrity and high moral standards. In heeding the promptings of Truth and Love, we hope that students and adults will live their lives as a reflection of the wisdom and compassion that comes from the search for God within. We hope our students' Inner Lights will shine brightly throughout their lives.
