Support for our values
Margaret Mercer asks Friends to reconsider attitudes to Quaker schools
I would like us all to put aside our preconceived ideas of private education for a moment, open our minds and allow ourselves to reconsider some of our attitudes.
Many Quaker schools were set up in response to the needs of the times when education in our country was haphazard and largely in the hands of the church. As state education developed in the twentieth century, it gradually became universal and more in keeping with Friends’ own child-centred ideas.
As time went on, Quaker understanding of equality in all things deepened and some of us became disenchanted with the idea of private, fee-paying and elitist education. Consequently, towards the latter half of the last century, our interest in our boarding schools waned.
Many Friends have not taken on board the effects of the changes made to education this century. The fast development of faith schools, new grammar schools, academies and free schools has led to consequences not fully realised at first, and has left education in crisis. Local authority schools have been left underfunded and unable to fulfil their promise of a broad education for all. Sport, music, domestic skills, art and drama facilities have been reduced, and many after-school activities almost nonexistent. Competition for league table status amongst schools has led to more pupil selection. Overly strict interpretation of curricula has severely limited space for creativity and cooperation.
As a result, many children are stressed, parental choice is no longer parental choice and free education is no longer free. Some children with special needs often can find little help.
In my view, education has become divisive and the antithesis of what many of us believe true education to be. There are, however, schools which still fulfil some Quaker ideals, be they local authority or privately funded. Some are considered ‘outstanding’ in their educational achievements, and I believe our Quaker schools are amongst this number – a beacon of what all schools could be.
As such, we should support their efforts to keep our ideas about education alive as examples in these dark times.
So, do you think we could adjust our attitudes a little? I would, for instance, like to see most Area Meetings resume sending representatives to Quaker schools’ general meetings. This would show support for the staff and engender interest in us, leading to more cooperation and understanding. I think the Local Meeting that pupils attend would appreciate having more Quaker visitors from their area join them for their Meetings for Worship.
Some visiting Friends might help facilitate out-of-school activities or share experiences and skills or be prepared to talk about Quakerism occasionally. Many of the boarding pupils come from abroad and from other cultures, some on overseas scholarships, and meeting them would be of mutual benefit.
This kind of support would fulfil the need to ensure the schools really do reflect our Quaker values. It might also demonstrate to the children that there are people who truly try to live their lives in accordance with those values. Some might take them as their own and, in time, become Friends themselves.
