At Mary McDowell Center for Learning, a Friends school for children with learning disabilities in New York City, each classroom is named for a Quaker who made a significant contribution to his or her community. With the assistance of a generous grant from the Friends Council on Education, the Center created and implemented a curriculum to teach Quaker testimonies through an in-depth study by students of the Quaker for whom their classroom is named.

During the summer of 2007, seven staff members researched and developed the overall curriculum, and collected materials – books, curriculum, videos and articles - to support the program. In addition to conducting extensive research on each Quaker, staff developed key questions to frame the curriculum, and chose teaching strategies such as role-playing, writing biographical skits and geography activities to enliven the learning process. The 2007-08 school year began with a two-month mini-unit exploring the testimonies by getting to know men and women whose lives clearly express Quaker values. Last fall, every class conducted extensive research into the life of ‘its Quaker.’

The focus on the testimonies at the start of a new school year is a wonderful vehicle for bringing the whole student body together and giving students, many of whom are not Quaker, insight into the underlying values of our school community. The curriculum took place on many levels: individually, in the classroom, school-wide, and in relation to our neighborhood community. Every class participated in activities using multi-sensory approaches and interactive projects designed to engage our students with learning disabilities. Within the overarching structure of the program, each classroom was free to develop projects and focus on particular themes. The students in each classroom created art projects, wrote biographies and poems, played games and created a visual presentation on their classroom door depicting the life story of ‘their Quaker.’ Students collaborated to create a time line which showed that Quakers have continued to be active participants in our history.

Students studied Quakers who made significant contributions in many fields from science to journalism and from medicine to politics. Students learned that many Quakers were instrumental in gaining rights for all peoples – regardless of race or sex. Some of the people our students got to know were: George Fox, the founder of Quakerism; Bayard Rustin, organizer of important non-violent marches during the civil rights movement; Alice Paul, who was instrumental in the writing and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment; Rufus Jones, creator and leader of the American Friends Service Committee (The AFSC received the Nobel peace prize in 1947.); Levi Coffin, known as the president of the underground railroad; and Lucretia Mott, an activist in the fight against slavery. Through the study of the lives of these exemplary men and women, students learned about the fundamental tenets of Quakerism - what it means to be a Quaker - to live out the testimonies. The Quaker belief in the Inner light, the belief that every person has God in him or her, inspired these individuals to work for equality of the sexes and races, and for peace. In their lifetimes these ideas were radical and groundbreaking. We hope to increase our students’ understanding of the hard work and suffering endured by these Quakers to fight for rights we enjoy today. They serve as role models for our students and they demonstrate how individuals can change the course of history by living out their convictions.

The unit culminated with an all-school assembly at which students shared the lives of their Quakers though re-enactments, poems, posters, and PowerPoint presentations. Students continue to learn from ‘their Quaker’ throughout school year. Concepts learned during the mini-unit are being integrated into the social studies curriculum, are being discussed in terms of current events, and are augmenting reading and writing studies. Key themes continue to be addressed in queries at twice-weekly Meeting for Worship. The curriculum will be expanded upon from year-to-year and will enhance the learning environment for our students with learning disabilities.

In addition to literature for faculty, a wide range of books, videos and DVD’s were purchased for the library and for classroom use in reading groups. Books for students include among others: Rufus Jones Essential Writings, Mothers of Feminism: The Story of Quaker Women in America by Margaret Hope Bacon, The Tendering Presence: Essays on John Woolman edited by Mike Heller, Penn by Elizabeth Janet Gray, Good Friends by Judith Baresel, and What Makes Me a Quaker? by Adam Woog. The entire Mary McDowell Center for Learning community – 193 students and 70 staff members – were moved by the bravery of these men and women who sacrificed a life of comfort to pursue their ideals. They accomplished much that we benefit from today. We are very thankful for the assistance of the Friends Council on Education which made it possible for the Center to develop and implement this curriculum giving our students a deeper understanding of Quaker values.