education
Quaker Schools: Instilling Spices No Matter Your Religion
By Justin Jenei
Attending a Quaker school, also known as a Friends School,
can be an extremely rewarding time for a child. Friends Schools are renowned for
their open-mindedness and understanding, common characteristics of the Quaker
religion. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is built on the principles
of tolerance, equality and spirituality. Friends Schools embrace these
philosophies and reflect them in their classrooms creating a learning
environment that is flexible, challenging and understanding.
According to Mike Schlotterbeck, Director of Marketing and
Communications, at Moorestown Friends School, a Quaker education aims to provide
students with excellence in education and spirituality. Quaker schools are
dedicated to quality education. They boast low student/teacher ratios, quality
instructors and high test scores. Moorestown Friends School had the highest
average SAT score in South Jersey for the class of 2009 at 1880, and Abington
Friends School in Pennsylvania boasts an eight to one student teacher ratio.*
Like all private schools, the low student/teacher ratio in
a Friends School does wonders for the quality of education being provided. In
many Friends Schools, there are no more than fifteen students in a class. Since
teachers are instructing classes without an overwhelming number of students it
creates a personal connection. Teachers get to know their students personalities
as well as strengths and weaknesses in the classroom. Obviously this is a great
benefit to the students. Teachers are able to tailor their lesson plans to fit
the type of class they are teaching. This leads to more effective methods based
on the students, something that cannot occur in larger classes. Students also
benefit from the personal, one on one attention that they are able to receive.
Another benefit to the small class size is that if a student knows a teacher
well there is less discomfort talking to them after class when a student may
need to clear a few things up about that day's lesson.
Friends Schools
offer a diverse array of extracurricular activities. These include popular
sports like soccer, lacrosse, field
hockey and tennis. They also include state of the art facilities. Friends
Central School in Pennsylvania has three gyms at their City Avenue campus and
have recently built an all weather track. Friends Schools also feature a variety
of clubs and programs which students are encouraged to take part in. With so
many easily available after school activities the majority of students at
Friends Schools enjoy a full, well rounded education.
The Quaker beliefs are an integral part of an education at
a Friends School. The Religious Society of Friends is a unique religion. It
teaches that there is a little bit of God in all of us and He is the part of us
that shows love and compassion and guides us to do good. The religion also
stresses equality for all, hence Quakers tend to be very open-minded and
accepting of everyone. Students are taught the values of the Quaker religion.
These include core values that are instilled at an early age. The main goal of
teaching these values is to show the benefits of being a down-to-earth, peaceful
and fair human being, traits that will certainly lead to a happy and complete
life. Part of the student's curriculum includes the acronym SPICES. SPICES
stands for simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship,
all important teachings of the Quaker religion.
However, an interesting aspect of Friends Schools is that
very few students in attendance are actually Quakers. According to Mr.
Schlotterbeck only about five percent of the students at Moorestown Friends
belong to the religion.* This is something for parents to consider when picking
out the perfect school for their child. Although the school is Quaker everyone
is welcome for who they are. At a Quaker school the atmosphere is very
open-minded, students are able to be themselves, and are accepted for it.
Sending your child to a Friends School can be advantageous
for them now and later on in life. An extremely high number of Friends School
graduates go on to college, and from there many choose to further their
education to even higher points. Friends schools promote good values and
encourage students to live their lives to the fullest. They provide a student
with everything he or she needs to live a satisfying, full life.
If you feel that this is the kind of environment your
children should be learning in, it is definitely worth it to look into nearby
Friends Schools.
Justin Jenei is a local freelance writer.
MoorestownFriends.com *
AbingtonFriends.net
Local Quaker Schools in New Jersey
Friends School of Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ
Friends Academy of Westampton Westampton, NJ
Haddonfield Friends School Haddonfield, NJ
Moorestown Friends School Moorestown, NJ
Orchard Friends Moorestown, NJ
Princeton Friends School Princeton, NJ
Rancocas Friends Rancocas, NJ
Westfield Friends School Cinnaminson, NJ
Local Quaker Schools in the Lehigh Valley
Buckingham Friends School Lahaska, PA
United Friends School Quakertown, PA
Local Quaker Schools in the Delaware Valley
Abington Friends School Jenkintown, PA
Buckingham Friends School Lahaska, PA
Delaware Valley Friends School Paoli, PA
Frankford Friends School Philadelphia, PA
Friends' Central School Wynnewood, PA
Friends School of Haverford Haverford, PA
Friends Select School Philadelphia, PA
George School Newtown, PA
Germantown Friends School Germantown, PA
Goshen Friends West Chester, PA
Greene Street Friends School Philadelphia, PA
Haddonfield Friends School Haddonfield, NJ
Lansdowne Friends School Lansdowne, PA
Media-Providence Friends School Media, PA
Newtown Friends School Newtown, PA
Orchard Friends Moorestown, NJ
Plymouth Meeting Friends School Plymouth Meeting, PA
The Quaker School at Horsham Horsham, PA
Stratford Friends School Havertown, PA
United Friends School Quakertown, PA
West Chester Friends School West Chester, PA
Westtown School Westtown, PA
William Penn Charter School Philadelphia, PA
Wilmington Friends School Wilmington, DE
"Princeton Friends School prepares students for the world
that is and models possibilities for the society our young people will one day
create." –Shu Shu Costa, Director of Admissions
"George School offers a unique form of academic rigor—a
pedagogy rooted in Quaker values and a curriculum infused by the global perspective of the International Baccalaureate
program. George School students are citizen-scholars who believe the world can
be better and society can be different." –Ari M. Betof, Director of Enrollment
Management & Strategic Planning
"Lansdowne Friends School is small enough to be considered
comfortable and informal yet large in its vision, reach and goals (that's why
our slogan reads, "Big Ideas in a Small School"). Each student is recognized and respected as an individual, each with a
unique voice that is encouraged and nurtured. As a school community rich in a diverse array of cultural
backgrounds and lifestyles, all students learn about tolerance and understanding of others who might
be different in various ways. Each LFS student participates in a hands-on, challenging, and
creative academic program, with an integrated emphasis on stewardship of the earth and
peaceful problem solving." –Sally Magaziner, Public Relations and Events Coordinator
"The faculty and staff of Goshen Friends School strive to
create a community of joyful learners. Small class size is integral. The
intimacy of the setting inspires confidence and allows children to succeed academically, socially and developmentally. Confident
learners develop the vital life skills of creative problem solving, self-reliance and the ability to lead.
That is the gift of a Goshen Friends education." –Mimi Blackwell, Events Coordinator
"Tomorrow's leaders need to think globally, need to
conceptualize and apply information in ways that will allow them not simply to solve the problems
caused by previous generations, but to face unknowable challenges that will come in a world that is
changing with extraordinary speed." –Bryan Garman, Head of School
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