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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.[/quote]

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. 
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