What is a Friends school?

State College Friends School is one of over 70 Friends schools around the country. Our school gets its name from the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. William Penn, who founded the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, also established the first Friends school in Philadelphia in 1689 to serve children of all races, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Based on the Quaker belief that every person has an inner Light, or a fundamental goodness, the first Friends schools were designed to be inclusive learning communities that prepared students to become active citizens engaged in shaping a more peaceful and just society.

Today, SCFS and other Friends schools still hold these same values, and the testimonies of equality, community, and peacebuilding influence all aspects of school life. The belief that each student has their own unique inner Light shapes teachers’ approach to designing curriculum activities, building a safe and engaging classroom community, and supporting each student in identifying their strengths, interests, and passions and pushing towards their growing edges. Friends schools are committed not only to individualizing the academic experience, but also nurturing each students’ development as a whole person by supporting their social, emotional, and spiritual growth.

The Quaker testimony of equality influences many Friends schools’ focus developing progressive curriculum and building diverse, inclusive, and just communities. SCFS is committed to fostering a strong sense of community among teachers, staff, families, and students, working together toward the long-term success of each child. Quakers form a minority of the student body at most Friends schools, and families of all faith traditions and non-theistic worldviews are welcome. Many Friends schools also uphold the tradition of Quaker social witness and activism by creating opportunities for students to engage in direct service and advocacy to affect positive changes in their communities.

SCFS is a member of the Friends Council on Education (FCE), a nonprofit whose mission is to “nurture the Quaker life of schools, strengthen the network of support across [Friends] schools, [and] promote Friends education” across the United States. Visit the FCE website to learn more about the ways in which the tenets of Quakerism shape Friends schools’ approach to education.

Quaker Beliefs and Practices

Quaker beliefs and practices stem from the fundamental idea that each human is precious, and has that of God or goodness within them, which Friends also refer to as the Inner Light. School life at a Friends school is guided by Quaker testimonies, often summarized using the acronym SPICES:

Simplicity

Peace

Integrity

Community
Equality
Stewardship

These principles are reflected in all aspects of school life from curriculum to community events, from conflict resolution to service learning, from parent-teacher relationships to communication between Friends schools and families.

Meeting for Worship

Many Friends schools practice the Quaker tradition of Meeting for Worship. This is a Quaker practice that encourages children and adults to listen for the “still, small voice” within, and share the truth that arises for them with the group.

At SCFS, we gather for Meeting for Worship on Friday mornings. Our time together is guided by a different class each week, who prepare for this role by developing queries and selecting songs. After friends gather in the Community Room in silence, a student from the facing bench shares the day’s query - a question designed to encourage self-reflection and active listening. Students and adults alike have the opportunity to share their truth by standing and speaking aloud to the group. The silence is broken with a handshake and the salutation, "Good day." The school community then attends to business matters by inviting students, teachers, and staff to share announcements and acknowledge birthdays. The Meeting for Worship closes with community singing before students walk in quiet reflection back to their classrooms.

“[Meeting for Worship] is simple and easily practiced in a religiously diverse community. Believing that each person has within [them] the capacity to listen deeply and to discern what is relevant and true, students and faculty gather to worship silently, waiting to be moved by Spirit... Meeting for Worship makes explicit the connection between the inward and outward life that is unique to Quaker education. The unprogrammed nature of meeting for worship, with its focus on the strength of the gathered group, gives children and adults of all faiths a powerful tool for spiritual growth.”

- Friends Council on Education

Many Friends schools practice the Quaker tradition of Meeting for Worship. This is a Quaker practice that encourages children and adults to listen for the “still, small voice” within, and share the truth that arises for them with the group.

At SCFS, we gather for Meeting for Worship on Friday mornings. Our time together is guided by a different class each week, who prepare for this role by developing queries and selecting songs. After friends gather in the Community Room in silence, a student from the facing bench shares the day’s query - a question designed to encourage self-reflection and active listening. Students and adults alike have the opportunity to share their truth by standing and speaking aloud to the group. The silence is broken with a handshake and the salutation, "Good day." The school community then attends to business matters by inviting students, teachers, and staff to share announcements and acknowledge birthdays. The Meeting for Worship closes with community singing before students walk in quiet reflection back to their classrooms.

“[Meeting for Worship] is simple and easily practiced in a religiously diverse community. Believing that each person has within [them] the capacity to listen deeply and to discern what is relevant and true, students and faculty gather to worship silently, waiting to be moved by Spirit... Meeting for Worship makes explicit the connection between the inward and outward life that is unique to Quaker education. The unprogrammed nature of meeting for worship, with its focus on the strength of the gathered group, gives children and adults of all faiths a powerful tool for spiritual growth.”

- Friends Council on Education