New head announced for Baltimore Friends
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Anonymous
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New HOS for Friends (Baltimore) was recently announced.
Just wondering if anyone on here affiliated with Friends has any thoughts? I'm not a parent but an alum who'll be looking at schools for 2023 entry. Despite being an alum, Friends has never been high on my list but I never rule it out either. All I know is that he has an appropriate background, albeit one focused on enrollment management, which may or may not be suggestive of something as Friends is about 200 students smaller than when I was a student. And an earring. And is possibly gay although it's not stated outright (no details on a spouse or family provided). The earring annoys me. But he does seem young. Any other rumors or background information? |
Anonymous
| Who is it? |
Anonymous
| Why in the world does the earring annoy you? If it’s true the school is not likely to be a good fit for your family. |
Anonymous
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https://www.friendsbalt.org/about/our-next-head-of-school
Christian Donovan, coming from Head-Royce in California. No idea what that school is like but he went to George, which is a big Quaker boarding school so he has exposure to the Quaker tradition. |
Anonymous
Because I find it childish on a grown adult male. And you're probably right. Not looking to stir a fight but I am intrigued and was wondering if other people had information or insight as to the school's future plans and this new headmaster because Friends is still on the list. |
Anonymous
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I actually know him. Not gay, as far as I know. Has dated women in the past. I think is single currently though.
He's friends with one of my closest friends, so I know him through someone else. Smart, compassionate and a wonderful person. |
Anonymous
George School is a great Quaker school with a true commitment to Quaker values. I believe Christian Donovan attended, taught their for 11 years, and coached. I attended while he was there and only have kind things to say. |
Anonymous
Why not Bryn Mawr/ Gilman? |
Anonymous
We are looking at all the usual suspects. So far I like Calvert the most. Also on the table is the locally zoned elementary, which is excellent, and deferring private for a few years or 6th. |
Anonymous
| I thought Quakers are cool with LGBT people, no? |
Anonymous
Apparently just not earrings! 😆 |
Anonymous
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I believe he was raised Quaker, as well.
And an enrollment management background sounds spot on for what every private school in Baltimore needs. Baltimore is over-saturated with private schools for a high poverty city that is losing residents every year. If you have a problem with the earring, the nail-polish on the SSFS head must REALLY send you over the edge. |
Anonymous
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Baltimore private school parent here. I've heard through the grapevine that there is a group of teachers causing a lot of issues at Friends.
Have some alum friends who said they are not considering it for their kids. We are a Bryn Mawr/Gilman alum family but kids at Calvert. Pretty happy there so far with staff and administration. |
Anonymous
There is a history of Quaker education in the family, particularly the Philadelphia schools, so I am not entirely ignorant of the theology of Quakerism or its recent history. One can make a valid argument that flamboyant behavior, including painted fingernails and earrings on men, would be distinctly against the spirit of Quakerism. These are attention-seeking behaviors traditionally shunned by Quakerism with its emphasis on plain dress and modesty. But I'm also aware that at many schools and meetings, Quakerism has evolved to be little more than virtue signaling progressive institutions. There are merits to many progressive ideals, but progressive institutions also tend to be at a distinct risk of becoming so absorbed by their self-moralizing that they lose sight of the basics, the truth, and grounded reality. It can be summarized by a car I saw the other day with a Friends decal and a bumper sticker that proclaimed "We are an anti-fascist family." Cool. We moved to Baltimore this year and for me it is after an absence of nearly 20 years, and it's been difficult to get a clear sense of Friends from talking to people. The school is 20% smaller than in my day, but most Baltimore schools haven't shrunk by that much and some even have grown. Boys Latin, the weakest school in my time, seems to be thriving and is getting rave reviews from parents. But I do suspect that Friend's enrollment decline is driven by that many families who'd have gone to Friends 20 years ago are now choosing the public schools, both city and county. Finances certainly plays a role but the resurgence of support for city public education in places like Roland Park is a major turnaround from my day. The overall sense I do get is not a great deal of enthusiasm. At the same time it's rarely despairingly. Just not enthusiastic. But they won't say why. Too progressive? Problematic teachers? My sample pool is still small, and the school still has 850 students, so take that for what it's worth. |
Anonymous
| Excited for this change! Welcome!!! |