"We prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be."
Informed by our Quaker values and inspired by a civility campaign of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance program, the Center for Peace, Equity and Justice at Friends launched a civility initiative in October 2016 that invites students, parents, faculty, and staff to consider ways we might pursue, through our individual and collective actions, a more civil dialogue in the public spaces of our democracy. The initiative was driven by concerns from student leaders, faculty, and administrators, who, as witnesses to this vitriolic election, wanted to find a response that calls for something better. These civility affirmations invite community members to consider how our timeless Quaker testimonies and practices can inform how we learn about and discuss politics and other complex issues. It asks ourselves: In our classrooms and at home, what are ways we might pursue these values and practices more fully during the election and beyond? Our school environment aims to be one in which it is safe to explore—and disagree on—important topics. Recognizing that individual truth is always partial, we need to listen with openness and respect, especially to “the other,” as much as we need to speak up with clarity and conviction. Click here to view a video of students discussing the importance of civility.
In the Main Lobby at Friends, an exhibit featuring this initiative is currently on display. An interactive element of the exhibit will be launched soon, which will feature statements from our community in response to this initiative. To participate, scroll to the bottom of this page.
We’ve asked members of our community to share their perspectives on the civility affirmations. Scroll down to see what they said.
"People listening to each other’s ideas shows mutual respect. Such actions help form a welcoming community where people feel comfortable to share their thoughts.How I act when I am listening can communicate so much. I hope to demonstrate curiosity and openness to others."
"Following these civility guidelines will help everyone will feel like their voice matters."
"We could learn from each other and learn as a community. Affirming these civility actions could stop us from being narrow-minded as a whole. It could open new doors of understanding and opportunities."
"It’s not always easy but striving to have civil conversations helps us broaden our views and learn why others think differently. I may not change my beliefs after listening but I know I can grow from it. A civil conversation is being open to considering what others have to say."
"These civility affirmations encourage our community members to state their opinions freely. They feel safe and assured that their thoughts matter."
"A conversation is made civil when there is a mutual respect for all opinions. Civility is important because everyone should feel comfortable sharing their perspectives in an academic setting."
"I think that we can help this country by using words, not violence, by making peace and not war, and we can do that by listening to each other."
"Our nation can use civility because people with disagreements--like Republicans and Democrats--can learn to respect each other."
"Civility can help you share your ideas with other people and help you listen to different points of view."
"Be an example. If somebody is being uncivil, give them a friendly reminder, and don’t be uncivil back because it will just spiral down from there."
"Modeling civil actions can help us become a more diverse community where we can learn from others. They will help our nation become more educated, so we don’t put down others or say rude or disrespectful commentary."
"When grownups talk badly to each other, young kids might think that what they are doing is right, and so they too will talk badly. This won’t make a real community."
"We could prevent global disaster by just respecting people and their views."
"If you want to be civil, there is nothing that can block you from acting kindly and being the person that you want to be."
"Modeling civil behavior helps to unite the community and bring people with different points of view together to collaborate."
"These civil affirmations will help our community grow together and learn to accept that everyone thinks differently and one idea is not necessarily wrong or right."
Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer.
Friends Seminary — the oldest continuously operated, coeducational school in NYC — serves college-bound day students in Kindergarten-Grade 12.
