Teacher Margaret's "View From My Window" - April 17th

Dear Westfield,

Thank you for indulging my inner historian . . . .

Seventh Grade students spend a trimester learning about the history and beliefs of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Students consider the way that history and beliefs shape the ways Quakers are in the world today, how this small group continues to act and serve in the wider world, and how Quakerism shapes the school they call home. One of our wonderings is whether or not it matters to our US Constitution that it was written and ratified in Philadelphia - a city established by Quakers in a colony (along with New Jersey) founded as havens for the Quakers and as holy experiments in religious diversity and freedom. 

This week, we discussed the First Amendment’s guarantee of the free expression of religion and its connections with the Quakers. We begin by taking a look at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s recent lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.  We watched a new documentary from PBS called Free Exercise: America’s First Story of Religious Liberty. The first section examines the intersection of early Quakers in 17th-century New Netherlands and their persecution at the hands of Governor Stuyvesant. The non-Quakers in Flushing objected to the treatment of the Quakers and wrote a letter we know as the Flushing Remonstrance.

“The Importance of Flushing” document

The non-Quaker Dutch expressed to the Governor that 

You have been pleased to send unto us a certain prohibition or command that we should not receive or entertain any of those people called Quakers because they are supposed to be, by some, seducers of the people. 

For our part we cannot condemn them in this case, neither can we stretch out our hands against them, for out of Christ God is a consuming fire, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Wee desire therefore in this case not to judge least we be judged, neither to condemn least we be condemned, but rather let every man stand or fall to his own Master. Wee are bounde by the law to do good unto all men, especially to those of the household of faith. And though for the present we seem to be unsensible for the law and the Law giver, yet when death and the Law assault us, if wee have our advocate to seeke, who shall plead for us in this case of conscience betwixt God and our own souls; the powers of this world can neither attach us, neither excuse us, for if God justifye who can condemn and if God condemn there is none can justify. ¹

The Flushing men who signed the document were imprisoned alongside the Quakers. 

Kids being kids, they struggle to understand why people fought, imprisoned, and killed each other over religious differences. For them, religion seems like an individual choice rather than a source of fiercely defended communal identity, or a state-sanctioned way of enforcing “good” civil society.  They were impressed that non-Quakers risked imprisonment to stand up for their Quaker neighbors. They relearned that New Netherlands was settled by the Dutch Reformed. They were challenged to understand the difference between toleration of religious difference and true freedom of religion. ¹

We will continue our considerations next week. We will wonder together what matters most to each of us and to our communities.

Warmly,

Margaret

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¹ Edward Hart, “The Importance of Flushing”, Excerpted from “The Importance of Flushing” by Russell Shorto in New York Archives (Winter 2008)

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In Meeting for Worship: We are singing songs focused on Passover, Spring, and Easter. We continue to focus on the Query on Simplicity

• How can I continue to do the right thing, even when no one is watching?
• How do I uphold integrity in my everyday life? 
• How can we encourage integrity in our community? 

Announcements

• April 18-20 ~ No Homework Weekend, Happy Easter, Happy Passover
•  April 26th ~ A Taste of Our Towns, come have fun and support our school
• April 26th ~ Opening of the Prek-8th Grade Art Show
• April 30-May 2 ~ Book Fair in the Meeting House
• April 2nd ~ Pancake Breakfast and Grandparents and Grandfriends Day
• May 5-9 ~ Teacher and School Nurse Appreciation Week
• May 7th ~ Family Council Meeting at 6:30
• May 12-15th ~ ERB/CTP Standardized Testing Grades 3-8