Comments on: Visiting a Quaker School

By: Pam

Pam — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:01:05 +0000

martin — I used to live across the street from Penn Charter, and I went to Germantown Friends for a while, I had the same reaction as you, I dind’t think Penn Charter was really quaker at all anymore. I had no idea about their history, or even the difference between gurneyite friends and hicksite friends (though I’m sure I learned it in a similar class 25 years ago — oh my god!)
Thanks for sharing your experience, I think I will have to read this a few more times, I’m sort of scattered right now.
peace
Pam
Posted by Pam | April 19, 2006 1:44 PM

By: Tom Kim

Tom Kim — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:16:46 +0000

It was certainly wonderful having you at Penn Charter; I’m sorry couldn’t stay for the entire session — looks like I missed out on the best parts!
Being a relatively new teacher (and new to Philadelphia), I didn’t know Penn Charter has the kind of reputation you alluded to. Why is that? Our school is about to undergo a formal self-evaluation of its own Quaker-ness, and I’d personally like to get more perspective on how Quakerism could be meshed with pedagogy.

By: C. Wess Daniels

C. Wess Daniels — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 11:28:11 +0000

Hey Martin, it sounds like it was a blast, I wish I could have been there to hear the stories and see the excitement of the children. I am also encourgared that a Gurneyite school would be doing such a great thing, I not only hope it continues but I hope it spreads too!

By: Marshall Massey (Iowa YM [C])

Marshall Massey (Iowa YM [C]) — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 06:36:41 +0000

Martin, your opening quotation from Brian Drayton’s new book speaks very strongly to me.
I was invited a year ago to give one of the two keynote speeches at Baltimore YM’s annual sessions this coming August. The expectation was that I would simply speak about what I have been doing in my field (Quaker environmental activism) this last decade or so, and about what others could do if they wanted to get involved. I had a very clear intimation, though, that taking such a routine approach would not please God.
Ultimately, my effort to grasp what would please God sent my whole life into an upheaval.
I think, when I return from my walk across the country, I’m going to have to read Brian’s book!
With all good wishes –

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:58:09 +0000

*Hi Pam:* Oh, let's not get into which school is the "most Quaker" school, we could get into a flame war over that. As I understand it, the historical associations of the schools are: Penn Charter Gurneyite (Twelveth Street Meeting, now Central Philadelphia), Germantown Wilburite Orthodox, Green Street Hicksite. I'm not sure it helps to make too much of these labels, as few Friends today seem to understand how the historical situation affects our current institutional divides... *And Liz...:* Goodness, no, nothing was recorded. I didn't give a formal presentation and the question and answer sessions were uneven. I gave fairly generic answers, my only talk of the Gurneys and Wilburs were with one of the teachers between classes. I was there primarily as a person of faith, with the Quaker influence being concerns for peace and patience in discernment. The most interesting part from the standpoint of the Quaker Ranter audience was the process of integrating ministry into a relatively secular setting.

By: lizopp

lizopp — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 16:56:04 +0000

Hey there, Martin. Any chance that these visits and sessions were recorded??? What a great opportunity, and I really love the application of Drayton’s counsel to your actual experience. Cool. It sounds as if you were faithful, too.
Blessings,
Liz, The Good Raised Up

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:44:47 +0000