Photo: Brummana High School.
Stockport Friends back school in Lebanon
David Gray, the principal of Brummana High School (BHS), told Stockport Quakers that the school is committed to carrying on as normal, despite the war between Israel and Hezbollah
A Quaker-founded school in Lebanon has a ninety-nine per cent pupil attendance rate, despite the ongoing challenges of war.
David Gray, the principal of Brummana High School (BHS), told Stockport Quakers that the school is committed to carrying on as normal, despite the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The principal made the comments at Stockport Meeting House this month, when local Friends invited him to give a talk.
Frances McCann, from Stockport Meeting, told the Friend that David shared his experiences of leading a school within ‘the uncertainties and consequences of war’. Praising ‘the resilience of staff, students and families’, she said that David described ‘their determination to ensure that “everyday life” continues within the disruptions of explosions, drone surveillance and restrictions that, sadly, are ongoing. He told us of the ninety-nine per cent attendance among students (from many different religious and cultural groups), of how transport is provided by the school on sixty different routes. He told us how the students maintain their commitment to learning, and of the school’s overall high education achievements.’
David also described how the school fitted within Lebanon’s education system, ‘where there is little state-provided education and many schools have a religious underpinning’.
Frances said: ‘BHS is a non-religious school and no religious education or activities take place. All students are fee-paying, with bursaries and other subsidies available for quite a large proportion of students. David described as “Quakerly” the values that inform every aspect of school life, with an acronym of I SERVE: Individuality, Service, Equality, Respect, V for Peace, [and] Environmental stewardship.’
The visit was arranged by Julia Horn, a trustee of the Quaker International Educational Trust (QuIET – which oversees the school’s management). Stockport Friends have built a relationship with BHS since Julia raised funds for new swings.
The trustees of QuIET and Stockport Meeting (on behalf of East Cheshire Area Meeting) are now raising funds for a telescope.
