Mission Statement
Friends School of Minnesota prepares children to embrace
life, learning, and community with hope, skill, understanding
and creativity. We are committed to the Quaker values of peace,
justice, simplicity and integrity.
Statement of Philosophy and Practice
Friends School is grounded in the values and practices of
the Religious Society of Friends, including community, simplicity,
equality, non-violence, justice, and silent reflection. Quakers
believe that there is within each individual "that of
God," an inner light or divine seed, a center from which
each of us grows to reach our highest potential. The school
provides a holistic education, nurturing the physical, intellectual,
spiritual, and social development of children.
With the central goal of promoting academic excellence in
our students, Friends School is guided by the principles of
progressive education, which recognize that children learn
best as active participants, collaborators, and problem-solvers.
In the progressive classroom, children learn to know the world
and to achieve a fuller understanding of themselves. Rich
projects enable children to acquire the skills and conceptual
understandings that lie at the heart of the formal disciplines.
The classroom community is of central importance, designed
to prepare children to be active participants in a democracy.
In the words of American philosopher John Dewey, progressive
education is "not preparation for life, but is life itself."
Friends School is committed to respecting the worth of
each person. Children learn that individuals possess freedom
of conscience and civil and economic rights and responsibilities.
We teach acceptance of differences among individuals and address
differences in learning styles.
Friends School is committed to teaching peace. Children
learn non-violent means of resolving conflicts as part of
normal school life, often carrying these methods into their
families and the wider community. Children learn how social
injustice can be overcome nonviolently.
Friends School is committed to building community.
Children learn to take responsibility for their own actions
and develop empathy, compassion, and a commitment to the well-being
of all. We practice and teach cooperative decision-making.
Friends, parents, staff, and students all have roles in the
life of the school.
Friends School is committed to equality. Children learn to
understand and value differences among cultures. We teach
that a multi-cultural society is stronger for its diversity.
We teach gender equity. We are dedicated to a school community
that draws from the Twin Cities' diversity in religious beliefs,
ethnicity, economic status, culture, and sexual orientation.
Friends School is committed to developing life-long
learning skills. We nurture each child's desire to
explore and understand the world and teach him or her the
skills needed to enable continued learning. These include
critical thinking, creativity, decision-making, and technological
competence.
Friends School is committed to nurturing the spiritual
awareness of children. In silent reflection, in class
or with the whole school, children learn to listen to their
own inner voice. Children learn about people who have been
spirit-led, past and present. The school provides many opportunities
for children to enhance their spiritual life through creative
expression.
Click here for a full
list of Friends School’s curriculum by subject area.
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