Jen OT: Quaker Schools

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

They are usually referred to as "Friends" schools. There are probably some near you - although they are generally more prevalent around areas with a lot of Quakers - mostly PA! I'm not a Quaker so I'm not sure about their "faith" - they are Christians but their worship services are different from what you see in other Christian chruches - they are called "Meetings for Worship" and there is a lot of silence! No real "service". People speak as they feel lead to speak. I would actually like to go to a service at some point to check it out. It is a very introspective religion from what I can tell.

As far as the schools/academics. It really isn't all that different from a traditional school - they learn the basics. The benefits are the small classes - which allow the kids to get more individual attention and progress at their own pace. They are also not receiving federal or state monies so they are not obligated to follow the "schedule" in terms of the "no child left behind" stuff, which in my opinion is a nice idea, but does not work in practice. Kids are all different and will progress at different levels not on an artifiical schedule that someone sets for them (please note that I have no education experience, just talking from the top of my head!). Tying funding to performance of students makes sense on one level (b/c you really do want the schools to do their jobs!) but not on another b/c I think what happens is they end up pushing some kids along who are not ready for the next step (which is

counterproductive) and I think there ends up being a lot of "teaching to the test". For instance, in the school where is they do administer standardized testing, but it is only for "informational" internal purposes. One interesting result is that in math calculations, the kids test "average" (on grade level) but in mathematical reasoning the 1st graders tend to score in the 4th grade range - which tells me they are teaching th kids to THINK not to memorize. When I think of the way I learned multiplication in school it was memorization of the tables, not an understanding of why 3X3 is 9. That came later. Here, they seem to teach that first, and then there is no need to really memorize those darned tables!

There is also a very open and accepting atmosphere and the kids are really taught to respect one another. The atmosphere is mostly what I like (academics can be taught anywhere to some extent)- the kids there are truly all very NICE and RESPECTFUL to adults and to each other. There is no bullying or "meaness" tolerated, which I think makes the educational experience much better. In so many schools the academics are overshadowed by a poor atmosphere which allows intolerance of others, disrespect of others, bullying, etc. which tends to make kids hate going to school and then associate the bad experience in school to a dislike of learning. I would really like to keep my DD there for her whole school "career" but it is pricey. I hate the thought of her going to middle or high school with all the cliqueness/nastiness. It was bad when I was a teenager, it is probably worse now. I do think

she would benefit greatly though from the small classes and open atmosphere. She has really come a long way in this school both socially and academically. She loves school, learning and is very confident now with other kids and adults.

Take care! Sorry to ramble.

Donna>Carolyn, we are dying to hear about YOUR new job! C'mon!oh!!! i dont have a new job at the moment, sorry my mentioning that was kind of vague. im thinking of applying for one (i know the woman who does the interviewing and she said she would hire me). i just have find time to do up my resume and fill out the application, etc. another thing to procrastinate about ::sigh:: if i get something, i will let ya know,:*carolyn.