a caring community, the development of creativity, and spiritual as well as mental growth. The curriculum should be true to specific facts as well as to the whole of life and should be presented to students with the wonder, energy, awe, and love that nourish the life of the spirit.

Many Friends are engaged in working to improve public education. We have a concern that schools provide an opportunity for young people to learn to care for each other and to practice the principles of cooperation. We want to talk about teaching methods and content with legislators, school boards, administrators, and teachers.

The aim of learning, whether it be in a school or at home, is to make whatever testimonies we live by more of a need

than a choice.... So that it becomes unthinkable not to serve others. So that it becomes unthinkable not to consider all humans part of the same family. So that a Schweitzerian "reverence for life" becomes a need rather than a self-conscious choice. Then, perhaps, some of our testimonies may have more meaning.

-- Richard L Eldridge, 1984

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Spiritual growth is on-going in all parts of our lives. Religious education is a useful part of this growth. It should be carefully planned to meet the needs of varying ages, but everyone in the meeting can help us understand that religion and everyday life are one and the same.

Do we give our young people, starting well before senior high age, a good grounding in Quaker ideas and activities including worship and the process of business, so that they know what this religion is, and how we are putting our principles into action in our lives and our world?

Do we make it clear what the joys and responsibilities of membership are so that they know what is and isn't ex- pected?

Do we make it clear that we are seeking too?

Do we involve them regularly in activities that include people of all ages? Do we involve them in the workings of the meeting: committees, planning and running activities including business meetings?

Do we try to keep our business meetings from being "dull, boring, and uninteresting"?

Do our adults know our young people as individuals, not just as a collective group of "them" or as "so-and-so's children"? Are we really Friends?