|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Meeting gathered at 9:00 on Seventh-day morning, Third Month 25, 2000, and settled into worship. Clerk was Arlene Kelly, alternate clerk Anne Moore and recording clerk Stephan de la Veaux.
- Minute 1: Welcome to Visitors
Clerk welcomed the gathered Friends and invited Friends from other Yearly Meetings to introduce themselves and their Meeting. Clerk read a traveling minute on behalf of Chris Skidmoor from Reading Meeting (Britain Yearly Meeting), who is visiting Baltimore and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings.
- Minute 2: Epistle
Stephen Gulick read an epistle from the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Young Friends. The epistle referred to two minutes: one on the use of tobacco, another on same-gender marriages.
Young Friends understand that the concern for smoking is a continuing concern. They minuted their support for designated outdoor areas for smoking, but not for a total ban. Quaker history teaches that to banish or disown weakens society as a whole. They strive to open their communities to all. Young Friends minuted their whole-hearted support of same-gender marriages, not just acquiescence. They find support for this in the Quaker concern for equality.
The minute closed with the belief that their community is based on true unconditional love, trust, and acceptance.
- Minute 3: Drug Concerns Working Group
Raymond Bentman and Gregory Barnes of Central Philadelphia Meeting presented the proposed minute rising from the Drug Concerns Working Group. There is an enormous social cost to the war on drugs: have we as a people been silent? Previous minutes addressed alcohol addiction, but not this. Aspects of the war on drugs that conflict with the Peace testimony include: mandatory prison sentences, military force used at the country’s borders, a disproportionate impact on minorities and the power of addiction in our own lives.
Why support the minute? The war, as prosecuted, is not working. The annual cost to the Federal Government alone is $17 billion. There are 2 million incarcerated Americans; most of whom are convicted for drug offenses. The number of deaths, emergencies, and arrests from drug use increases; only the cost of illegal drugs decreases. This war violates our Peace testimony; it is a true war. There are strong racial overtones on how the war is fought. Minorities are disproportionally imprisoned with disproportionally longer prison terms.
There is an alternative. Treatment, while only 50% effective, is still much more cost-effective, far less violent, and a way to reduce drug dependency. It works better than the current program, which does not work at all.
Meeting discussed the proposed minute. Friends spoke warmly of the minute, noting other groups affected by the current prosecution of the war. It was stressed that this minute does not speak against using law enforcement against drug dealers.
Meeting approved the proposed minute, with amendments, asking that the minute be edited to include the amendments and be presented to Meeting the following morning. Amendments include:
- Adding “Religious” to the phrase “Society of Friends,”
- Adding “the disproportionate length of prison time for minorities,”
- Substitute a more appropriate word for “minorities,”
- Noting that this minute does not speak against the use of law enforcement against drug dealers,
- Adding that other people besides the young are adversely affected by the manner of prosecution of this war [such as the elderly].
Members of the Drug Concerns Working Group rose to introduce themselves to Meeting.
- Minute 4: Thanks to Clerk of Yearly Meeting Planning Committee
Clerk thanked Susan Makler of Abington Meeting for her work as Clerk of Yearly Meeting Planning Committee; a post she has held since 1992. Clerk noted her steadfastness and thoroughness, greatly easing the work of others. Her work in planning the new Residential Yearly Meetings was especially appreciated. Susan received a warm round of applause.
- Minute 5: Covenant on Education
Clerk introduced Rachel Bull, Clerk of the Education Standing Committee. Members of that committee rose to introduce themselves. Rachel reported that a great deal of progress has been made since last Residential Yearly Meeting in support of the Covenant on Education. The standing committee is hiring a staff person to work on children and nonviolence. Rachel reviewed the material and read the Covenant on Education.
Rachel introduced Marlene Santoyo, Clerk of the Public Education Working Group. Marlene thanked Meeting for allowing her to speak on this great concern for many Friends. Over 300 Friends in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting work in public education. Friends have long supported quality education for all. Public teachers often have to teach thirty or more students without help. She spoke of a Cambodian student in her class and his efforts to learn in a new language and a new country.
Public school parents desire quality education. Are there public funds to support this? This is beginning to happen in New Jersey. We might be near the point where there will be equitable funding in Pennsylvania via the proposed KEEPS bill in the legislature. The working group strongly supports the KEEPS bill as a way to insure that all in Pennsylvania can get a decent public education. Marlene referred to earlier struggles for equality pressed by Friends. Equity funding is an important stepping stone for quality public education.
Edward Marshall of the Friends Children in Friends Schools Working Group expressed the desire for good education, be the child educated in public schools, Friends school or home schooled. The goal for the Friends Children in Friends Schools Working Group is that any family of the Yearly Meeting desiring to send their children to a Friends school be able to do so. He referred to a project embarking on a comprehensive effort to address this challenge:
- The working group plans to survey all Yearly Meeting families on their educational needs.
- They are working with Friends schools to unify those schools’ policies for tuition aid for Friends.
- They are exploring better tuition aid formulas, which favor the very wealthy or the very poor.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting support has increased from $600 to $1100; this is still insufficient.
Edward finished by speaking how, when he sees a group of Quaker children, he wonders whether he is seeing a rare species and worries whether they might be the last of that species.
Clerk thanked the speakers. Clerk anticipates future recommendations from the Education Standing Committee for resolution by Yearly Meeting. The standing committee then asked Meeting’s consideration of the following questions:
- What support do parents need from monthly, quarterly and yearly meeting for their children’s education?
- What would it look like if we actively embraced these goals and worked towards them?
- Do you feel the work described reflects your witness?
Meeting discussed the raised concerns. Friends spoke of the powers of a Friends schooling; a centering point in their lives. Other Friends asked if all Quaker schools were Quaker in spirit? The majority of children and teachers in those schools are not Friends.
Many Friends spoke of children with special needs. There are few Quaker or public resources for many of these children. Public schools offer tremendous diversity, but at the cost of large classes. Thanks were offered to the Middle School program for including children with special needs.
Friends asked if there are Yearly Meeting programs for children younger than Middle School? Should Yearly Meeting help support Quaker summer camps? The idea here is to promote an extended contact in a Quaker setting. The quality of religious education in Friends Schools and monthly meetings was discussed. Many Friends felt energized by the activities and concerns raised by the Education Standing Committee.
Rachel concluded the presentation by urging all Friends to carry these concerns back to their meetings and communities, and welcomed all so moved to join the working groups under the care of the Education Standing Committee.
- Minute 6: Session Recess
Minutes of the session were read, corrected and approved and announcements made. Friends adjourned, purposing to reconvene Seventh-day afternoon at 2:00, God willing.
Stephan de la Veaux, recording clerk
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM