Friends School of Baltimore
Encyclopedia
Friends School of Baltimore is a private Quaker school in Baltimore, serving students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
(the Quakers). Classes were first held in the Aisquith Street Meetinghouse in the East Baltimore community of Old Town. The School was moved to the Lombard Street Meetinghouse in the 1840s and then, in 1899, to its third location at 1712 Park Avenue, adjacent to the Park Avenue Meetinghouse. In 1925, Friends purchased its present site at 5114 North Charles Street. Though the School incorporated in 1973 and separated from the Baltimore Monthly Meeting of Friends, Stony Run
, it maintains its historic and philosophic ties with the Meeting.
on a regular basis. Based on the Quaker tradition of silent waiting, this shared religious experience gives participants an opportunity to quietly "center" and express their inner thoughts in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
Co-curricular activities include after-school interscholastic and intramural sports, theater and dance productions, private music lessons, and after-school clubs and committees in each division.
In addition to separate instructional buildings for the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools—including a separate facility for the Lower School's Pre-K through Pre-First program—the Friends campus features a music education facility, dance studio, fitness room, two gymnasiums, a wrestling room, tennis courts, five full playing fields and two practice areas.
Friends School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
and the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, and is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education.
†The terms "Principal" and "Headmaster" were not used before 1864. The term "Head of School" was first used by Jon Harris.
†From 1889 to 1899 Lamb's school was separate from the Meeting's School.
† Calvin McCo
History
It is the oldest private school in Baltimore, founded in 1784 by members of the Religious Society of FriendsReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
(the Quakers). Classes were first held in the Aisquith Street Meetinghouse in the East Baltimore community of Old Town. The School was moved to the Lombard Street Meetinghouse in the 1840s and then, in 1899, to its third location at 1712 Park Avenue, adjacent to the Park Avenue Meetinghouse. In 1925, Friends purchased its present site at 5114 North Charles Street. Though the School incorporated in 1973 and separated from the Baltimore Monthly Meeting of Friends, Stony Run
Baltimore Yearly Meeting
Baltimore Yearly Meeting is a body of the Religious Society of Friends headquartered in Sandy Spring, Maryland that includes Friends from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. It was the first Yearly Meeting founded in North America, meeting in May 1672...
, it maintains its historic and philosophic ties with the Meeting.
Philosophy
Quakers believe in the fundamental equality of all persons. In keeping with this tradition, Friends School provides an environment that attempts to promote trust and mutual respect, and encourages students to identify and develop their unique gifts and talents. All students at Friends attend Meeting for WorshipMeeting for worship
A meeting for worship is a practice of the Religious Society of Friends in many ways comparable to a church service. These services have a wide variety of forms, creating a spectrum from typical Protestant liturgy to silent waiting for the Spirit .A Meeting for Worship may start with a query;...
on a regular basis. Based on the Quaker tradition of silent waiting, this shared religious experience gives participants an opportunity to quietly "center" and express their inner thoughts in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
Curriculum and facilities
Education programs in each division are designed to instill a love of learning by fostering students' critical thinking skills and encouraging them to seek creative methods for solving problems. In addition to traditional academic subjects, all students participate in fine arts and physical education courses, as well as community service, which teaches students to look beyond themselves and form connections with the greater community.Co-curricular activities include after-school interscholastic and intramural sports, theater and dance productions, private music lessons, and after-school clubs and committees in each division.
In addition to separate instructional buildings for the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools—including a separate facility for the Lower School's Pre-K through Pre-First program—the Friends campus features a music education facility, dance studio, fitness room, two gymnasiums, a wrestling room, tennis courts, five full playing fields and two practice areas.
Faculty and administration
In 2006 the School had a faculty of 105 teachers, including 87 full-time faculty, a yearly operating budget of $16.1 million and an endowment of $16.6 million. The School is governed by a Board of Trustees.Friends School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
and the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, and is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education.
Principals, headmasters, heads of the school
- Eli M. Lamb (1864-1899†)
- Louisa P. Blackburn (1889–1899)
- John W. Gregg (1899–1903)
- Edward C. Wilson (1903–1927)
- William S. Pike (1927–1935)
- Edwin C. Zavitz (1935–1943)
- Bliss Forbush, Sr. (1943–1960)
- W. Byron Forbush II (1960–1998)
- Jon M. Harris (1998–2002)
- Lila B. Lohr (2002–2005)
- Matthew Micciche (2005–Present)
†The terms "Principal" and "Headmaster" were not used before 1864. The term "Head of School" was first used by Jon Harris.
†From 1889 to 1899 Lamb's school was separate from the Meeting's School.
† Calvin McCo
Notable alumni
- Kyle HarrisonKyle HarrisonKyle Harrison is a lacrosse player from Baltimore, Maryland born to Wanda and Miles Harrison,M.D.. He matriculated to the Friends School of Baltimore, and later played in college at Johns Hopkins. While playing for the Blue Jays, he led the team to the 2005 NCAA Division I National Championship.His...
, professional lacrosse player - Kenneth HechtKenneth HechtKenneth Hecht is an American public interest attorney. Hecht is an advocate for improved access to nutritious, affordable food on behalf of low-income people....
, public interest attorney and advocate - Marcie Jones, nonfiction writer
- Steve Sherman, a critic of modern society
- Jae DealJae DealJae Deal was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He is an American composer, arranger, music producer and orchestrator in various genres including pop, gospel, and hip hop. He is also a session keyboardist, programmer, and bassist in Los Angeles, California...
, composer and Pop music producer (middle school attendee) - Andy MacPhailAndy MacPhailAndy MacPhail is the former president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles. He was the president/CEO of the National League Chicago Cubs from September 9, 1994 until October 1, 2006...
, Baltimore Orioles COO (not a graduate but attended Friends) - Jonathan MeathJonathan MeathJonathan Meath is an award–winning American TV producer based in Boston who is notable for earning numerous Emmy nominations and the coveted George Foster Peabody Award in 1993. He is known for his commitment to children's educational television...
, up to fourth grade - Davy LauterbachDavy LauterbachDavy Lauterbach is a painter and poet who also works in the television business. His most notable television credit is as an assistant director on The Simpsons. His other credits include King of the Hill, and Days of our Lives....
, TV writer - Lance ReddickLance ReddickLance Reddick is an American theater, film and TV actor and musician born in Baltimore, Maryland. He starred in The Wire as Cedric Daniels, appeared in Oz as Detective Johnny Basil and appeared in the fourth and fifth seasons of Lost. He now has a prominent role in Fringe...
, TV and film actor - Rachel TalalayRachel Talalay-Filmography:* Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare * Ghost in the Machine * Tank Girl -Television credits:* Ally McBeal* Boston Public* Cold Case* Crossing Jordan* The Dead Zone* Dice* The Division...
, film director, producer, actress - Jason WinerJason WinerJason Winer is an American director, producer, writer, actor and comedian. He is best known for being one of the directors on the award-winning series Modern Family on ABC.Winer was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland...
, actor, director ("Modern Family", etc.) - Holter GrahamHolter GrahamHolter Ford Graham is an American actor and labor union leader. He made his feature film debut at the age of 13 in the 1986 comedy-horror film Maximum Overdrive...
, actor (Fly Away HomeFly Away HomeFly Away Home is a 1996 drama and comedy film directed by Carroll Ballard, the director of The Black Stallion . The film stars Anna Paquin, Jeff Daniels and Dana Delany. The story follows a young girl from New Zealand who survives a car crash that results in the death of her mother...
), current member on the board of directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio ArtistsAmerican Federation of Television and Radio ArtistsThe American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
Historical timeline
- 1781 Quaker Meeting House opened at Aisquith and Fayette Streets.
- 1800 School House constructed on Old Town property.
- 1816 Girls' School opened.
- 1840s School moved to Lombard Street Meeting House.
- 1865 Introduction of high-school classes.
- 1866 Name changed to "Friends Elementary and High School," Baltimore's first private high school.
- 1887 Lombard Street property sold.
- 1892 Purchase of lot next to Park Avenue Meeting House.
- 1899 Renamed "Park Avenue Friends Elementary and High School."
- 1900 Name changed to "Friends School".
- 1901 First issue of Friends School Quarterly.
- 1908 Electric lighting installed in the school.
- 1911 Purchase of 1712 Park Avenue for kindergarten and primary grades.
- 1912 Purchase of 8½ acres in West Forest Park for athletic field. First football team.
- 1913 Student government organization begun.
- 1921 School uniforms adopted.
- 1924 Boys' lacrosse started.
- 1927 Girls' lacrosse started.
- 1929 Primary Department moved to Homeland campus.
- 1931 Intermediate Department Building constructed at Homeland.
- 1936 High School moved to Homeland. School organization changed to a Lower School (grades 1-6) and an Upper School (grades 7-12).
- 1937 Clubhouse remodeled to house nursery and kindergarten classes. New gymnasium built.
- 1954 Education Committee changed admission policy to allow desegregation.
- 1955 First black students admitted to Friends.
- 1964 All classes desegregated.
- 1966 New science building and new addition to gymnasium.
- 1967 First full-time black faculty hired.
- 1970 Middle School established.
- 1974 Faculty Meeting for Business established.
- 1975 Auditorium extended to house Middle School.
- 1982 Addition to Upper School building. Purchase of 2.1 acres (8,498.4 m²) from Cathedral property.
- 1986 New cafeteria built.
- 1987 Pool built for summer programs use.
- 1989 Expansion of Lower School to Pre-primary ages.
- 2003 Opening of the Alumni Center.
- 2005 New Middle School and Athletic Turf.
- 2009 New dining hall built
See also
- List of Friends Schools, including colleges and preparatory schools associated with the Religious Society of FriendsReligious Society of FriendsThe Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
Sources
- Friends for two hundred years: A history of Baltimore's oldest school, by Dean R. Esslinger
External links
- Friends School of Baltimore Official site