4 minute read
Arete Fall 2019: Innovative Quakerism
At MB, IQ means something different
Our school’s legacy of Quaker innovation
Matt Glendinning, Head of School
Did you know that, for more than three centuries, Quakers have been at the leading edge of nearly every social change movement in this country’s history, from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage, prison reform to peace activism, and of course education? Quakers have always been and continue to be incredible innovators.
This pioneering spirit is part of Moses Brown’s DNA. Moses Brown himself, along with Samuel Slater, is credited with being among the leading pioneers of the American Industrial Revolution. One of the reasons that MB has been around for 235 years is that the school has always shown an ability to understand and evolve with the changing times.
Fascinated by the many technical advancements of the industrial era, Headmaster Augustine Jones (great-grandfather of Dean Woodman '46) valued the practical application of cross-disciplary knowledge. Despite skepticism and opposition from the school's board, he invigorated the curriculum with the introduction of music, as well as metalworking, woodshop, Shakespeare and fine arts. And, believing strongly that a balanced education improves the body as well as the mind, he built a gymnasium, which is now the Walter Jones Library.
From 1879 to 1904, Moses Brown was blessed by the leadership of a Quaker from Maine named Augustine Jones. At the time, improvements in public schools and changes in higher education were forcing private schools to modernize as well, and in response Jones undertook some important initiatives. A lover of machines as much as art, his vision for Moses Brown included:
• Introduction of mechanical arts like metal working and carpentry, and fine arts like drawing, painting and music;
• Continuation of the school’s religious traditions, paralleled by new priorities such as physical fitness and outdoor activity; and
• Improvements to the campus such as a centralized heat plant, electric lights, telephones and new facilities for athletics (now Jones Library) and art (Studio of the Three Oaks).
Jones harnessed the innovative spirit of the day while preserving the fundamental character of the school. His prescient strategy worked: enrollment flourished, and Jones left an impact on the school long past his tenure.
The first half of the 20th century was another time of profound change for American education. Whereas in 1900 many private schools had a religious affiliation and focused as much on character development as on academics, by mid-century the focus was squarely on preparation for college. The shift toward heightened academic standards was mirrored by the emergence of qualifying exams—the College Board in 1900, SATs in the 1920s, Achievement tests in the 1930s, and APs in the 1950s. And with the launch of Sputnik in 1957, America was engulfed by a wave of existential anxiety and calls for school reform.
It was in such an environment that MB chose as its new Headmaster Robert Cunningham (1957-1964), a graduate of Princeton and a Rhodes Scholar who had taught at Exeter and helped develop the AP Program at the College Board. His sterling credentials presaged the thrust of his tenure at MB—academic rigor—and under the rubric of what was called The Program for Progress the school entered another period of growth. Major accomplishments included:
• Introduction of Advanced Placement courses, with a strong emphasis on Science. (Six weeks after Sputnik was sent into orbit MB’s rocketry program was featured in Life Magazine);
• Focus on teaching excellence, including classroom visitation and evaluation, and increased teacher salaries; and
• A capital campaign that raised almost $1 million for new facilities, including Friends Hall.
When considered 50 years later, these changes appear both well-timed and strategic. Enrollment at MB spiked more than 25% under Cunningham’s leadership.
Historians of the future will have the final say on whether MB in the year 2019 was sufficiently innovative. But in the spirit of Augustine Jones, I am proud of the steps we have taken to honor MB’s past and embrace the future. Our emphasis on creative, collaborative problem-solving; new programs in social entrepreneurship, engineering & design, and coding & robotics; and new facilities such as the Y-Lab and Woodman Center are preparing our students to be global citizens in a rapidly changing world. In the pages that follow, we share ways that our school continues to live up to our legacy of Innovative Quakerism, our unique brand of IQ. And, through the voices of students, alumni and parents, I hope you’ll gain a sense of how our mission and values create a foundation for lives of purpose and fulfillment.
Grace Casey-Gouin ’06, Creative Director and Brand Strategist at Echoview Fiber Mill. Grace was on the field hockey team at Moses Brown and went on the medical service trip to the Dominican Republic while a student at MB. within the Carolinas, where Grace runs machines herself and employs skilled local workers.
Abby Gerrish ’20, Current senior at Moses Brown and involved in Science Olympiad, the Disciplinary Committee, Environmental Council, Equal Voice Club, editor and writer for 1784 (MB’s re-vamped newspaper), Omnia Literary Magazine as well as part of the Varsity Cross-Country and Track & Field programs.
