“ . . . be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one.” 
George Fox, 1656

Colleagues and Friends -

I write to you on November 6, 2024, on the day after our country’s national election. The political and social division all of us have felt for the past decade continues to be with us all. Those divisions will remain with us into our futures. As always, we can rely on our Quaker principles to bring us into stronger unity.

It feels useful to remind ourselves that Quaker schools stand for something. What Quaker schools stand for is a deep and abiding commitment to answering to that of God, that of the Light, that of the Truth, in each and every one in our school communities. In George Fox’s famous words, it is with a spirit of optimism and hope that we open our hearts and minds to all we encounter and all with whom we work, that each one will help to reveal something important about what is true and right in the world. We are especially mindful that those in our communities who feel acutely tender now know that our schools should serve as places of comfort and belonging.

Our central work has not changed. We must continue to welcome the rich tapestry of the United States into our schools, and we must continue to do so in the spirit of respect, welcome, and broad inclusivity. This will have transformative power for all who are amongst us in our school communities.

There are some clear ways forward from here. We continue to steward the missions of our schools in ways that align with our values, and we practice self-care as we care for those in our midst. This election season, our schools clarified and committed to the principles of civic education, civil discourse, and the peaceful resolution of conflict. The protocols of Restorative Practices support that work of community building by highlighting the importance of accountability and repair of harm guided by a cycle of reflection, response, and re-integration. Explore how to incorporate Restorative Practices in a 2-day workshop on November 14 and 15. Find more information and register here.

For the care that can come in a spirit-led gathering of community, we invite you and the adult members of your school to the second in a series of Meetings for Worship on Tuesday, November 12th, 3:30-4:30pm EST. 

I know Friends Council will have more to say about what is central to our collective missions as Friends schools in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, I hold each of you in the Light in the hope that you will find courage in our timeless mission to honor and encourage what animates each of us to do good in the world.

Drew Smith, Executive Director
(he/him/his)

Friends Council on Education