Illuminating the Inner Light: Friends Foundations Anchors Ninth Grade in Quaker Practice

 

This fall, Friends Seminary introduced Friends Foundations, a new required course for all ninth graders that places Quaker values at the center of the Upper School experience. Conceived by the Center for Peace, Equity and Justice (CPEJ) and led by Kara Kutner and Kirsti Peters, the class is designed to help students begin their high school years by engaging deeply with the principles and practices that shape life at Friends.

Although not a traditional history class, Friends Foundations asks students to consider the intersections of Quakerism, citizenship, service, and identity. They are examining the bold witness of modern Quaker leaders, connecting the Society of Friends’ legacy of activism with contemporary movements for justice, and reflecting on what it means to belong to a school community rooted in equality, peace, and stewardship.

Early in the semester, students gathered in Leading, the James Turrell Skyspace on campus, to explore the Quaker belief in the Inner Light—the divine spark present in every person. Immersed in silence and shifting light, they reflected on how perception and stillness can open new ways of seeing themselves and others. This experience laid a foundation for later discussions of Quaker practice, including the structure and meaning of Meeting for Worship.

Interim Head of School Rich Nourie, who brings decades of experience in Quaker education, visited the class to lead a lesson on Quaker decision-making and the practice of clerking. He introduced students to the collective process used in Meetings for Business, encouraging them to question the majority-rules mentality so common in other settings. Instead of seeking to “win,” students explored how Friends aim for understanding, shared clarity, and respect in engagement. The lesson emphasized that the goal is not debate but discernment, and Rich urged students to consider the question at the heart of Quaker decision-making: How do we make our understanding more complete?

The course will culminate in a final project that asks students to put their learning into practice. In small groups, they will design and lead a service-learning opportunity, host a dialogue, or create a how-to guide for civic engagement for their peers. By taking ownership of this work, students will come to understand how Quaker values can be translated into meaningful action.

The development of Friends Foundations reflects a broad collaboration between CPEJ and academic leaders including Eric Osario, Head of Upper School, Hassan Wilson, K–12 Dean of Studies, and Devan Ganeshananthan, Associate Head of School. This partnership represents Friends’ commitment to preparing students for their Upper School years with intention and vision, and to shaping curriculum that speaks directly to the School’s mission.

At its heart, Friends Foundations is an invitation: to see the Light in themselves and in others, to practice discernment and service, and to approach their high school journey with curiosity, courage, and conscience. Just as importantly, it establishes a rigorous academic framework—encouraging students to approach history, identity, and civic responsibility with the same thoughtfulness they bring to their other studies. In doing so, the course affirms that Quaker practice is not only a spiritual guide but also an intellectual discipline—one that equips students to engage thoughtfully with global communities, recognize our interconnectedness, and step into their roles as citizens of an increasingly complex world.