‘Middle schoolers speak out on Sunday
Last First Day (Sunday), five teenage nuakers spoke to the Newtown Meeting Adult Class. They candidly discussed their views of the relevance of nuakerism and religion to their generation, the nuaker peace testimony and real life situations, technology and its compatibility with nuaker beliefs like simplicity and integrity, the compatibility of the nuaker process of not taking votes but “gathering a sense of the meeting” when all are in agreement and the necessity of getting things done by a deadline, and the view of nuakers and nuakerism as seen by their peers.
The teenage panelists were Jack Dugan (George School), hatie Hulihan (Council Rock HS), Baxter Hurst-Blair (Philadelphia HS of Performing Arts), Brennan hinnel (George School), and Sophie Myles (George School).
This First Day, Oct. 21 at 9:45 a.m., five nuaker middle school students will tell the Adult Class what they think about the same issues and some additional topics. What is the most important nuaker testimony (Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Service, Stewardship) to you and/or your generation? What tensions do you encounter between your nuaker beliefs and your life as a teenager? Are cell phones and video games and other forms of modern technology compatible with your nuaker beliefs?
The five speakers will be Hannah Dugan, Betsy Hulihan, hate hlaver, Sophie Lynch, and siolet Myles.
There are over ninety children registered in the First Day School of the historic Friends (nuaker) Meetinghouse at 219 Court Street in Newtown. The thriving First Day School (Sunday School) classes are taught entirely by volunteers, many of whom are parents and/or from the teaching staff of Newtown Friends School, the elementary school governed by Newtown Friends Meeting, and George School, the nuaker boarding school in Newtown.
The programs with young people speaking to the adult class is part of Newtown nuaker Meeting’s commitment to intergenerational communication and one of the creative ways it has been addressing the “GAP.”
Elizabeth Hurst, a local behavioral therapist who works with children, families and adolescents at Newtown Therapy, is moderator and creator of the two panel discussions. She said, “It’s thrilling to talk with these young people. They are thoughtful, creative, have great ideas and a lot to say. These programs let us adults see the world around them through the eyes of the next generation.”
Newtown Friends Meeting is open to all who wish to attend. Regular First Day Education classes (Sunday School) for all ages begin at 9:45 a.m. and Meeting for Worship begins at 11 a.m. Childcare is provided.