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The School’s understanding of an educated person, as well as its academic program, values, and culture, is strongly shaped by the liberal arts tradition and the ideals of the Religious Society of Friends. In keeping with its identity as a Quaker liberal arts school, academics and ethical values are inextricably linked at BFS. We believe that values without knowledge are ineffective, but education without morals is a danger to the individual and the community.
In a liberal arts education that embraces multicultural perspectives, students receive broad training in the various disciplines and arts. Liberal arts students wrestle with such essential questions as what it means to be human, the components of a rewarding life, and the responsibilities of individuals to themselves and to others. Freed to the extent possible from prejudice and mere custom or habit, they are trained to approach these and similar questions with humility and an open mind, critically reassessing their answers on a continual basis. Such an education prepares students to be citizens in the highest sense of that word, to make principled judgments about matters of public debate, and to have the courage to stand by their convictions.
It is the Quaker dimension, however, that defines the School most specifically. Almost immediately after the founding of the Religious Society of Friends in 17th century England, Quakers established schools to provide both boys and girls an education in keeping with their values. From their inception these schools fostered an educational environment promoting strong academics, a commitment to moral values and service, and opposition to cultural and societal norms based on exclusivity, social-class distinctions, and violence. Quakers have been leaders in service and social activism. Values central to Quakerism include integrity, equality, simplicity, compassion, peace, and the search for truth.
At the heart of Quakerism is the belief that there is that of Light or that of God in everyone. Its central practice is Meeting for Worship, which is a time for centering, deeper reflection, and contemplation. Friends worship silently, waiting upon the spirit, and participants are encouraged to speak from their hearts when so moved.
As a Quaker institution, Brooklyn Friends values community. Quaker Meeting occurs weekly, and the attitudes exhibited therein are meant to be replicated in all interactions among members of the community: active listening, respect for others, openness to divergent opinions, and compassion, within a space safe for everyone to have a voice and take risks. The search for truth is a communal activity involving a free exchange of ideas.
Community service is an important part of our educational program, with the goal of providing students with experiences that demonstrate that they can make a difference. Diversity is valued: members of the community come together as one, while acknowledging and celebrating their differences. In and out of the classroom, faculty work on community-building skills, promptly and openly addressing actions or attitudes that involve disrespect or bullying. Discipline is based on trust, mutual support, and personal responsibility, with behavioral limits set to ensure that each child receives the benefits of the school’s educational program.
Content, foundational skills, and higher-order thinking capabilities are priorities in the instructional program: basic skills and a body of knowledge are necessary for successful exercise of critical thinking. Course content is always under review. Of particular importance is the development of students’ writing and speaking skills; the ability to express oneself clearly is necessary for critical thinking and participation in public debates. The educational program encourages students to become scholars-artists-athletes by exploring their potential in all these areas.
Each child is approached as a bearer of special gifts that can be nurtured and expanded by the school’s program. In a cooperative, rather than competitive, learning environment students are encouraged to do their best rather than be the best. It is the school’s belief that strong intellectual growth requires a course of studies that is demanding and challenging. While students are always pushed to reach the next level of excellence, they are provided with the nurturing and support that help them succeed.
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