Friends Education

"Friends,” also known as Quakers, are members of the Religious Society of Friends and believe that there is "inner light” or “that of God” or in everyone. Out of this central belief comes a commitment to working cooperatively with others, accepting individual differences, using collaborative decision-making, and seeking peaceful resolution to conflict. All Friends Schools strive to be inclusive in our approaches and welcome community members of all faith backgrounds. In fact, most Friends schools are composed almost entirely of families who are not Quaker.

Tandem did not begin as a Quaker school, but became a “convinced” Friends School in 1995. In fact, Tandem is the only independent school in the United States to adopt the philosophy and practices of Quaker education after its founding. Tandem School was renamed Tandem Friends School to signal this shift and became the first member school of the Friends Council on Education that was not founded by Quakers.

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Quaker Testimonies

In Quakerism, testimonies are ways in which individuals “Let their Life Speak,” or live in alignment with their beliefs. As a Friends School community, we encourage each student to reflect on their own beliefs as well as on Quaker testimonies such as Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.
Meeting for Worship

In many Quaker traditions, there is no singular religious leader who conducts worship. Instead, Quakers sit together in silence, each listening intentionally, seeking guidance from their “Inner Voice.” This practice, called Meeting for Worship, is the central organized spiritual activity and is what most Friends School students talk about when asked what Quaker schools do.

At Tandem Friends, Wednesday’s Community Time is always Meeting for Worship. Once a week, our school community gathers to sit in shared silence and listen inwardly. Sometimes a "query" for reflection is presented. Sometimes someone is moved to respond to the query or speak about something else on their mind. We always go to Meeting with the belief that each member of the community has something valuable to share. For most students, Meeting for Worship does not necessarily feel like a religious practice but is more akin to mindfulness practices. Meeting provides students with a regular opportunity to slow down, be intentional, and reflect calmly during an otherwise fast-paced academic schedule.
Friends Council on Education

Tandem Friends is a member of the Friends Council on Education, the National Association of Friends Schools. Click here to visit their website, which contains great resources about what Friends Schools have to offer.