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Whittier Miscellany MAY 2018 • WILMINGTON FRIENDS SCHOOL’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER • WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
Bidding a bittersweet farewell to excellent teachers CONNOR MILLER ’19 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF One of the most outstanding aspects of the Wilmington Friends School Community is the teachers. All teachers care about their students and their success and go out of their way to meet with students to provide extra help. Unfortunately, as in every profession, teachers retire, but new ones will always come to fill their place. This year, seven faculty members are leaving in both the upper school and the middle school. Those teachers are Lynn Puritz-Fine, Mark Schmittle, Lauren Gutstein, Helena Cochrane, Jerome Bailey, Eric Tucker, and David Gertler. The community will miss them, but they leave many memories in their wake. Upper School Dean for Students, Lynn Puritz-Fine, who has been at the school for almost thirty years, had this to say about her Friends School experience: “Every one of my favorite memories contains a special moment with a student. They run the gamut from happy to sad. I had an extreme trip to Costa Rica with two guys who were athletic. I remember one moment when we were climbing up the mountain with mudslides and thorns everywhere and bullet ants which could send you to the hospital with one sting. The boys took me in hand and one of them said, ‘I got you, Ms. Puritz’. They dragged me and pushed me up that mountain. It took them two hours, but they got me up that mountain. I’ll never forget that. To me, Friends School means family, support, collegiality, and growth. Over these three decades, I’ve gone through all kinds of life events from a divorce, to breaking my pelvis twice, to getting sabbatical opportunities, to being in Colorado when my son was a senior, to being a mom, to going to Mexico with my children, to the recent death of my husband. My
students and colleagues were there,” Puritz-Fine continues, “Teaching is not a job for me; teaching is a vocation. Counseling is a vocation, but this community is healing. The commitment and enthusiasm in my colleagues is unusual. The students who allow me to help facilitate their growth by being honest with me has been amazing.” Rebecca Zug, Head of Upper School, says this about Puritz-Fine, “She has been here almost thirty years and has left her imprint on student life. I think for a long time to come, we will say: “what would Ms. Puritz do? She cares about students in a way that is a model for all of us.” Puritz-Fine has impacted the lives of nearly every student she has worked with and the community will miss her, but we wish her an abundance of happiness with her children and grandchildren. Mark Schmittle, Head of the Science Department, mentioned that his favorite aspect of working at Friends was, “working with fun students and great colleagues.” Schmittle has been a chemistry teacher for many years and is known both for his friendly pranks that he pulls on his students, and his extravagant stories. Zug describes, “He has had such a lasting impact on the science department and for decades before my time he was the soccer coach, he was the yearbook advisor, and he did eco-sustainability initiatives, he has been faculty clerk, grade dean, and department chair. I value working with him. He is a real source of wisdom.” The upper school English Department and theatre community will be losing Lauren Gutstein. Throughout her time at Friends, she has worked passionately with the performances. Gutstein mentioned this on her time at Friends: “We’re more than a school, we’re a close-knit community. I think my work with the shows will be some of the memories that stick with me the most because they’re such intense times while trying to put a production together. Friends is
a place where people can call home and where people care about each other. This is my first time in a Quaker institution which will be lasting for me. It is nice to see the Quaker values in practice.” The community is saddened by her departure but wishes her the best in the future. Middle school history teacher, Jerome Bailey who has been at Friends for two years will be leaving to teach at another school in the upcoming year. We wish you the best of luck! David Gertler, middle school teacher, is also leaving this year. Also known as ‘Math-Master G’, Gertler has been known to create raps at the end of the year including all of his students. We will miss his charisma and versatility! Eric Tucker, middle school English teacher, may also be leaving due to medical reasons. We thank him for captivating stories and great tennis coaching. Any student who has experienced his class will remember his bowl of chocolate with a packet of cheese at the bottom that is older than anyone can remember! Helena Cochran came to us from Episcopal. We were so lucky to get her and almost as soon as she arrived, she started working in the college guidance office. She has done the QUEST Dominican Republic trip, she chaperoned MOAS, she was in Alabama for the Equal Justice Initiative, she has been extraordinary. We are really going to miss her. Javier Ergueta will be taking a one year sabbatical with his son in Spain. In addition to spending time in Spain, Ergueta plans to travel extensively working and doing research that will enhance his IB courses. Everyone at WFS wishes him a great time and look forward to your return! Finally, as Zug stated, “Everyone wears multiple hats in this community so every time a teacher leaves, the ripple effect is significant.” We are thankful that all of these fine teachers were part of our Friends School journey.
COMMUNITY
meditation and good food: keys to happiness Nick urick ’20 Community Writer This past week, the Wilmington Friends Upper School Peace Colloquium occurred in the WFS library and global learning center. The colloquium was held exclusively for the current freshman class, but sophomores also had the opportunity to volunteer at the colloquium, and therefore experience the events that took place. The colloquium has taken place at Friends for a few years now, and is known to be an educational and interesting experience for all parties involved. The colloquium is part of the Global Peace and Justice class for ninth graders, taught by Betsy Cepparulo. This year, the focus of the Upper School Peace Colloquium was the justice system in Wilmington. The school hosted a variety of speakers, including, but not only, a man who spent time in a Wilmington prison, a public defender in Wilmington, and a doctor who has seen many of the health concerns that come with the crime in Wilmington. The speakers were very effective in educating the attendees of the colloquium this year. During a conversation about the colloquium, Denzel Dixon ’20, a volunteer at the colloquium commented, “The symposium was a very life changing experience. I learned that one mistake does not determine a person’s future, but instead, you build from those mistakes and work to change the lives of others. I also
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learned about the amount of jails that need to be built in the area, and the fact that they choose the amount needed by the amount of people who get expelled or in trouble in third grade, which was interesting, controversial, and something I never knew.” Clearly, the speakers at the colloquium offered some very telling insight about the inner workings of the justice system in Wilmington. As shown in Dixon’s quote, the colloquium also taught many lessons to the students, such as how to learn from your mistakes. This made the colloquium an opportunity for both academic education as well as philosophical enrichment. The variety of speakers at the colloquium this year allowed the attendees to learn about the justice system in Wilmington from many different standpoints. Annabel Teague ’20, a volunteer at the colloquium, who spent time listening to the public defender speaker, said that “Getting to hear from a public defender in Wilmington was actually very interesting. I really got to learn about litigation in Wilmington, and how legal issues are solved for those who don’t necessarily have the assets to get a fancy lawyer to defend them. The speaker was very informative, and overall taught me a lot about how many crimes are handled in Wilmington.” Here, Teague shows the true value in the colloquium by her display of what she learned simply by volunteering there. Therefore, the colloquium this year offered many students the opportunity to objectively learn about the way the city in which they go to school works, from a variety of views. The colloquium also presented an aspect which the majority of the upper school and the seventh and eighth grad-
ers got to view, as opposed to exclusively the freshmen. A play was shown in the theatre called ‘Out of the Ashes’, which told the story of a son who spent most of his childhood away from his father due to his father’s prison time. It showed their periods of time apart, and later together, through separate monologues performed by both the father and the son. This made for a very intriguing and educational experience, as it added a very cinematic feel to a true story. The play taught a very important message on how a mistake can change your life and the lives of the ones around you, and benefited a very large part of the Wilmington Friends student body. During a conversation, Carter Gramiak ’21, a freshman who spent his whole day at the colloquium commented that “I thought that the peace colloquium was very informative, and I really learned a lot about the justice system in Wilmington, and the many ways that it can be improved.” Clearly, Gramiak learned a lot about Wilmington through the colloquium, and perhaps was inspired to look further into the improvements that would be plausible for the city of Wilmington. The Upper School Peace Colloquium at Friends this year proved to be a very educational and compelling event for everyone involved. The freshman at the school spent their whole day there, learning about the city of Wilmington, its inner workings, crime issues, and justice system. Over the years, the event remains an effective way to educate the freshmen, and often the general upper school, on the local controversies going on around them, and the ways they can help. This year, the event was particularly effective, and it is the hope that the colloquium will continue to educate its attendees for years to come.
Connor Miller ’19 Editor-in-chief
disregard of Quaker values, but Adebi was ready for this: “Honestly, I can understand the complaints that people may have of the game seeming like a risk, but in terms of how we design the rules, we made sure that the activities in this game would not be on school grounds. Also, the event is not sponsored or affiliated with the school at all, so it isn’t a concern to follow the Quaker values.” The game is also a fun way to end your upper school career with all of your classmates. Adebi stated, “It’s kind of funny to watch the videos of people eliminating their targets. It can range from a student ambushing another while they’re getting ice cream, to running around Trolley Square.” For many, it is a simple game of fun that bonds students together in their final days of high school.
Whittier Senior assassin pro & con Miscellany EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Connor Miller ’19 NEWS EDITOR: Ellie Bradley ’19 SPORTS EDITOR: Carlin Beskrone ’19 ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: James Butterfield ’20 SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR: Elise Johnson ’21 COPY EDITOR: Evie Kortanek ’18 WEB EDITOR: Honor Dearlove ’19 FACULTY ADVISOR: Daniel Scott
STAFF
Cecilia Ergueta ’18 Honor Dearlove ’19 Lucy Knudsen ’19 James Tallman ’19 Emma Landis ’19 Nick Urick ’20 Dylan Roskovensky ’20 Nick Redd ’20 Henry Wieman ’21
The Whittier Miscellany is published six times during the school year by the upper school journalism staff of Wilmington Friends School, 101 School Road, Wilmington, DE 19803. To access the Whittier Miscellany online, go to www.wfswhittier.com. Check Whittier Miscellany online for Weekly Updates! The Whittier Miscellany welcomes responses in the form of letters to the articles, editorials, and features of this paper. Contact: wfswhittiermiscellany@gmail.com ‘Like’ Whittier on Facebook at ‘WFS Whittier’!
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Pro: One of the traditions for Wilmington Friends School is the game Senior Assassin, where any senior involved receives a ‘target’ that a person is hit with water, he or she is out. The water could burst from a water balloon, a water bottle, or even a tossed glass of water. The cost to enter this year is $10 and the last person standing receives the money, which rings in at just over $500. Some play to win the money, but others play to be crowned the Ultimate Senior Assassin. This year, the game was as intense as always, with Daniel Adebi ’18 spearheading the organization and running of the game. When asked why he became the leader of the game, Adebi commented, “I didn’t want to participate because I didn’t want the stress of always being on the lookout, so I wanted to help out.” Adebi was more than the average organizer. He created an algorithm which randomized the selection process for targets. Adebi mentioned, “I thought it would be cool to create the algorithm to match people because I wanted to put my coding skills to good use. This was the perfect opportunity to do it, and it worked pretty well in achieving complete randomness.” Students and faculty often critique the safety of the game and its blatant
Con: While most high schools have this game for their seniors, the name of the game is controversial as Wilmington Friends School is a Quaker school that does not tolerate “violence.” There may also be concerns about the safety of the game. Even though the game is not technically affiliated with the school, the seniors are all representatives of Wilmington Friends. Scott Clothier, Head of the Department of History, mentioned that he doesn’t “think it’s very Quakerly.” The game also could cause competition among the students in a time that would normally be used for bonding outside of school during their senior exploration. On this, Clothier mentioned, “I think it takes away from an important period of time of school; the end of the year.” There is also a safety concern with the game. If a bystander witnesses two teenagers running with something in the chaser’s hand, or students’ camping for hours outside of another’s home, it will raise suspicion. In the end, Senior Assassin has its pros and cons, but it’s up to you to decide which outweighs the other.
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news
Let’s get educa(ted)! TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a is a nonprofit organization which posts videos online under the slogan “ideas worth spreading”. TED talks can be about a wide variety of topics, but usually fall into scientific, cultural, and academic categories. A TEDx event can be organized by volunteers from any community, and just like TED events, the videos are posted for free and without any agenda. The goal of TED is to give a voice to anyone with a story and an important message to share. L o u i sa Spinner ‘18 is friends with TEDx speaker Olivia O’Donnell, and went to support her at the conference. Spinner commented on why it was interesting to see O’Donnell perform: “I thought it was super empowering to see Olivia on stage. All of the other speakers were adults, so it was inspiring and important to have a younger voice/perspective on stage (especially discussing a topic like racism)”. When asked about her overall experience with TED talks, Spinner remarked: “I have watched a couple of TED talks before Olivia’s, and one important commonality between the speeches was that they all were educational. In each speech, the speaker would provide clear and relevant history on their subject, and then they would explain current ways that society can help/fix/change/support etc”. Spinner continued: “I think TED talks are a great way for youth to learn outside of the classroom, and possibly even voice their opinion”. Coach Sue Kampert has been a driving force in pro-
ducing TED talks in Wilmington. She explained her history in getting with TEDx here: “I attended TEDx Wilmington Women in the fall of 2016 and thought it was really interesting to hear different women speak on technology, entertainment and design ideas in short talks lasting 18 minutes or less”. Kampert continued: “I was curious as to how this could fit with our own youth being involved and giving talks
talk and I attended the event in the morning since I had to go to work. I am hoping to remain involved in the TEDx community in the future”. If you see Sue Kampert in the hallways, be sure to thank her for her work in bringing TEDx to Wilmington Friends! Olivia O’Donnell ‘18, TEDx speaker and Wilmington Friends Student, commented on her preparation for her TED talk: “TEDx is a consuming process--but well worth it. There are many deadlines that require you to stay on top of the material so you are ready for the final debut”. O’Donnell also mentioned what it was like to hear the other speakers talk: “Hearing the other speakers was mesmerizing. Everyone had a special message and I am beyond grateful that I was able to hear that message in-person. I learned about resilience, positivity, steps towards success, etc. that now shape how I view the obstacles that I face”. O’Donnell concluded my mentioning why she thinks TEDx is important: “TEDx is a one-of-a-kind platform. It garners billions of views worldwide and is very respected. I had always wanted to give a TED talk, so this was the perfect opportunity”. Congratulations on your TEDx talk, Olivia! It is inspiring to see a Friends student sharing her message with the world. TEDx is a great opportunity for people to share their ideas with the world. As viewers, it is possible to learn about a wide variety of topics for free because of TED talks. Wilmington Friends was closely linked with the event this year by hosting it and having a student speak. Here’s to many more informative TED talks in the future!
Photo by kevinbreel.com
Lucy Knudsen ’19 News Writer
The TED talk logo.
so I organized the first TEDx Youth event last year at Ursuline Academy”. When asked what draws her to TED, Kampert remarked: “I joined the tribe because I liked being involved and hearing so many different people from around the world speak at the Wilmington events”. Kampert also mentioned how Wilmington Friends got involved, which was due in large part to her help: “I thought it would be great for Friends to have an event and mentioned it to the leader of TEDx Wilmington Ajit George. He organized this event along with Ken and they decided to stream the global event from Vancouver as well”. Lastly, Kampert brought up her future with TEDx O’Donnell’s talk this year: “Olivia O’Donnell gave a
the upcoming summer El Paso Service Trip Honor dearlove ’19 News Writer As the school year winds down, students and teachers alike are looking forward to all of their exciting summer plans. For many, these plans include traveling with a group of other Friends School students within the States or abroad for service trips. In the past, students have traveled to El Paso, Texas, as well as the Dominican Republic, to do valuable service (and have fun). This summer, students are returning to El Paso and are counting down the days before their trip. In the past, students have always had incredibly eye-opening experiences on their service trips. Two years ago, students traveled to El Paso to help work at a summer camp and make much needed improvements to a school. While the work at the camp and the manual labor of fixing the school was certainly very helpful service, students felt that the most valuable part of their trip was getting to bond with the kids and
adults participating in and working in the camp. Many of these kids are immigrants from Mexico and South/ Central America, some undocumented, and getting to have conversations with them allowed students to better understand a lifestyle that they are not accustomed to. Students also were able to practice their Spanish skills, something that was surely beneficial to all the students who are studying Spanish at school. Senior Jake Morris said of the trip in 2016: “it was a really enriching experience overall. It felt really good knowing that I was able to help make a real difference in the community.” The El Paso trip was a highly fulfilling experience for all the students and teachers who went, and as the next group prepares for their trip over the next few weeks, it is clear that they have something to look forward to. This year’s trip focuses on learning about border control and meeting with illegal immigrants as well as doing similar service projects to help students really understand the ins and outs of the immigration
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process. In today’s political climate, the lessons that students will learn are especially important. Freshman Luke Munch will be traveling to El Paso this summer, and said of the trip; “I cannot wait for El Paso. Immigration is such an important issue right now and I think that interacting with the people that are directly affected by the new policies will be really interesting and eye-opening. I’m thrilled to be able to have this experience.” Students are not only excited to gain the experience of traveling with their friends and peers, but also excited to gain a new perspective and learn, something that really sums up the purpose of these trips. Service is something that is central to the mission of Wilmington Friends School, and students are constantly surrounded with new opportunities to positively influence our community through service. These trips are an extension of this idea, but what sets them apart is their ability to expose students to a way of life and a culture that is very different from their own, as well as form incredible bonds both with each
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News
standardized testing: A necessary evil? With Juniors taking SAT’s and ACT’s this year, and the Lower School completing their ERB tests this past month, testing seems to be pretty prevalent here at Wilmington Friends. However, there is some controversy over whether or not standardized testing is really necessary to put students through. Is testing in this way really just a ploy for companies like Kaplan to profit off of students and parents’ obsessions with scores good enough to send in college applications? Should we be forcing students of ages nine through eleven or twelve to sit through hours of exams? Too many questions and doubts arise over the topic for it to not be controversial. WFS students’ opinions of the testing seem to vary within this controversy. Remy Steward ’20 commented, “I think standardized testing is a great way to let the teachers understand how well a student is understanding the curriculum. I also think that it is a very stressful time for all students considering that exams are worth a lot, so we’re pressured to do very well.” Annabel Teague ’20 also mentioned, “Standardized testing doesn’t always represent how smart someone is because someone can be smart but can be really bad at standardized testing. I think standardized tests are okay, but they could be improved upon. That’s easier said than done, of course, because of how the test is
just a standard for what people think we should be at. However, I firmly believe that testing should be tailored more towards your strengths and what career choices you want to pursue. If that were the case, I think it would give colleges a better idea of what you really like and what you’re good at. Let’s face it, not everyone is a math wiz and not everyone is an English and grammar master, so as important as those
doesn’t really work like that. Classes to learn tricks and shortcuts are expensive, propelling the richest and best connected to the top. I see the need for standardized tests, but I think there is still work to be done in making them fairer. Ultimately, I think it should be about testing aptitude rather than tutoring.” Clearly, students see a need for change, and it is safe to say that this trend would continue outside of WFS Upper School. Students seem to think that the SAT’s and ACT’s are unfair to many people, and are not an accurate depiction of your intelligence or what kind of student you are. It is true that classes like the ones Kaplan offers are nearly $1,000, and personal tutoring can cost even more. For most people taking these tests, spending that much is either a huge sacrifice, or not possible due to their financial situation. Ultimately, the standardized tests cause a competitive and aggressive atmosphere among our youth, and result in extreme stress and uneasiness. Though younger students taking ERB tests may not understand why they are taking those exams, the ERB is a way to prepare for future standardized testing. Though getting rid of testing like the SAT and ACT may not be necessary, there does seem to be some need for change in perhaps the weight of, structure of, or intensity of standardized testing. Students should not experience the extent of stress and pressure that they do over a singular test meant to trick and puzzle them, and compare them to other students in unfair ways. Photo by Niche Blog
Ellie bradley ’19 News Writer
Students taking a test
skills are, that shouldn’t be what really determines our intelligence as people.” Stated Rob Baldwin ’18. Grant Sheppard ’19 contributed, “On one hand, standardized testing is good because it gives everyone a chance - no matter where you’re from, what your parents do, or what you look like. However, it
Spotlight on the rising seniors, class of 2019 Ellie Bradley ’19 News Editor We decided to ask a few members of the rising senior class some fun questions about school, sports, and their lives! Enjoy getting to know your new seniors. Simon Wakeley What is your favorite subject in School? Chemistry, because Mrs. O’Brien gave Peter and me the liberty to do any of the labs we would want in our own free time. This allowed me to explore more extreme labs that were not restricted by the IB curriculum. Nate Crock What does your ideal Saturday look like? Waking up around 8:00, then I usually make myself a nice big breakfast, then I take it to the basement and watch TV until like 2:00, then I usually take a nap for two hours. Then I get my computer and listen to music. Then I go to sleep. Liam Harron How do you think the football team will do this upcoming season?
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I think we should be good. We’re losing a lot on both lines, but I think we have guys ready to step up. One of these guys in particular is Nate Crock. He’s been working hard in the weight room this off season and I think he’s ready to come out there and hit some people. We return almost all of our skill positions so we will have an experienced group of guys handling the ball. We will definitely miss the seniors but this should be the year where we see a lot of the guys who have been on the team for a while step up and fill their places. Lisa Dobber What are your thoughts on IB diploma one year in? I think it’s really hard but it’s definitely doable for people who are willing to put in the effort, and I’ve learned a lot. TOK has provided a really interesting perspective and it’s made me put more thought into the way I think and learn. Grant Sheppard What are you most looking forward to next year? I am looking forward to being a senior, and looking more at colleges. I am also looking forward to clerking World Affairs Club again; the club is gaining more and more traction and current events are really heating up. I am also looking forward to seeing how well the next LLS Student of the Year Campaigners, Sean Brady and Katrina Winfield, will do.
Bella Stuccio What makes the class of 2019 unique? What makes the class of 2019 unique is that everyone in the grade is unique themselves and there is such a diverse range of students and variety of interest which creates an easy diffusion of perspective. Carson Davis-Tinnell What is your favorite memory of our class? I had so many memories. Some of my favorite memories this year included the field hockey season, the Model United Nations conference in Philadelphia, and especially Spirit Week, which is always fun! Connor Nisbet What are your thoughts on this class? I love our class. I can honestly say that I am friends with almost everyone. We are a really accepting class who takes both academics and sports seriously with an emphasis of having a good time. What are you looking forward to? I look forward to working with the Business Team as clerk. The team is perfectly balanced and we will work very well together next year. The Whittier looks forward to next year with the new staff taking over. Congratulations, class of 2018. Bring on the class of 2019!
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Entertainment
Interview with the director of damn yankees Dance, song, humor, and… sexism? This year’s theatre production, Damn Yankees, was a delightful opportunity for Friends School students to showcase their talent in an American musical from the 1950s. However, along with the old-time costumes and outdated slang came a rather old-fashioned outlook on genders and stereotypes. What challenges come along with preparing such a piece in today’s world? Should our school be presenting pieces that do not uphold its own core values? What could be the danger if it didn’t? I sat down and had a conversation with Lauren Gutstein, English teacher and co-director of the musical, to find out. Q: This year’s musical production, Damn Yankees, had many themes and elements that today would be considered “outdated,” particularly regarding female characters and their stories. This is likely related to its 1955 publication date. How do you deal with this as a director? A: The dilemma is real, and I have experienced it, having directed a number of plays at this school. I think two things: First, it’s important that you distinguish between whether the work itself is sexist or racist, which sometimes we find in plays that were written a while ago. And whether the works themselves were racist or the characters are, --and that’s important to distinguish because I think it matters-- we should be able to confront characters that make us uncomfortable. That’s part of life, and part of art as well. I also don’t think that it is entirely appropriate or necessary to hold all works of art to modern day standards, even though I know that’s hard for us sometimes. I think it’s perfectly fine to point out things that seem old-fashioned, and have a conversation about it, but I don’t agree with not doing something because it seems outdated. Q: That leads me to another question, which is whether the “political correctness” of a theatrical piece affects your selection decision. How do you make the choice between, “oh, this play’s okay,” and “no, this one’s too sexist?” A: Well, I think you need to look at the work as whole. Why are you putting it on in the first place? You also have to be aware of the audience, like will they be able to understand the choices you’ve made, and will they be able to understand the context of the work itself,
because those are both really important. If you’re going to pick a show, there’s gotta be some good reasons why you’re going to do it in the first place, something that you think it’s going to give to your actors and the community you’re performing it for.
partment has a responsibility to uphold certain values through the works it chooses? A: Yeah, take Damn Yankees for example. It’s a comedy, but it also asks the question of what’s important to us, and what are we willing to risk or sacrifice to get what we want, and how do we treat the people we love, do we take them for granted-- I think those are all ideas in the play that do fit with the philosophy of the school, or that are worth considering as a community.
Q: In a way, Damn Yankees works because it’s a comedy, so that upbeat nature helps it gloss over tough issues. But that leads to another question, which is, when “outdated” elements are presented in a lighthearted, upbeat way, does that makes light of social issues, or even validate stereotypes to people? Do you The cast and crew of the Wilmington Friends School production of Damn Yankees think there’s a danger to that? A: I do think there’s danger in that. I’ve thought about this a lot and, speaking as a director who does two shows a year, I think it’s a responsibility to put on as many different types of work from different points of view and diverse voices as possible. Because yes, I think you can get to a place where I think you’re belittling these important issues, and if that’s all you do, if that’s all you show, if that’s all you watch, I think that’s a real danger and a real problem. What you need to do is present different kinds of work that treat important, light, and funny issues in different ways, so different conversations are being had and it’s not just the same old, “oh, look, there’s the bimbo character” in every single play-- because I don’t agree with that; I think that’s not right. I think there’s a responsibility to try to present different points of view and different types of work, because theatre can be so many different things. Q: I think a lot of the time, writing and theatre can be political, whether the author chooses to or not. But as a school, we have our own “political message;” we have our core values and Quaker philosophy, and it can be argued that certain plays don’t uphold our school values-- including maybe Damn Yankees. Do you think that as a school institution, the theatre de-
where you got the pic!
Cecilia Ergueta ’18 Columnist
Q: So do you see our role as a school different than that of, for example, an independent theatre company?
A: Over my theatrical career, I’ve tried to consider that, and you can see that, looking over the other shows we’ve done here: The Laramie Project, The Crucible-- I chose those productions in particular for our community to consider some tough questions and be reflective. Theatre can be so many things, but sometimes theatre is meant to be fun and entertainment. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that either. Q: So what’s the danger in avoiding theatrical productions that aren’t perfectly in line with contemporary standards? A: I know I’ve definitely had that impulse. But-- you’re missing a lot of good stuff, and more importantly, things are just not that simple. I just don’t think that we can just not show anything that makes us slightly uncomfortable, because those points of view are out there. So let’s see them and critique them, and think about them. And sometimes have fun with them, because that’s what we have to do sometimes. But there are modern dramatists, modern plays, with modern sensibilities, with diverse voices, and let’s see what they have to say too.
Mary shelley: The film of A female’s triumph in the sexist world James Butterfield ’20 Entertainment Editor
Many women throughout the world have, and presently do, provide significant contributions to the world around us. The movie Mary Shelley tells the story of Mary Shelley, the female author most notably known for writing Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus. In the film there are apparent themes and topics regarding females and gender roles, most prominently reflecting female individualism, which are still pivotal today. The story of Shelley’s Frankenstein came about after her firsthand experience with sexism. Mainly inspired by her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary sets off to write the spectacular novel of Victor Frankenstein and his “creation”; however, her illustrated compelling ideas are questioned by many--predominantly men--including her husband. Throughout the film in mainly male characters, there is light shed on topics like sexism and female gender roles expressed through the men close to Shelley.
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Such aroused subjects are relevant in the world even today, even in the lives of students at Wilmington Friends School. When informed of Shelley’s firsthand experience with sexism and her miscredited work, Jadyn Elliott ’20 expressed her thoughts and feelings on the scenario: “Honestly I don’t find this very surprising, but it is really upsetting to hear. History has shown that women are not always given the benefit of the doubt. Also, it was, and still is, frequently assumed that women cannot carry out creative pursuits by themselves or without the help from men. It’s a really common thing where people do not see women as individuals with their own original ideas. It is also really upsetting because as we grow as humans we still have these bad habits where we think that men are the ones making important decisions, influential ideas, and things along those lines, and that women do not have the same sort of capabilities as men and do not form creative ideas.” Elliott also communicates what she thinks we should do to grow apart from these horrific notions: “I think we need to get to the point where we can be-
-lieve that women that women have been and can be as successful and do the same things that a man can do. Also, we need to change everyone’s mindset and outlook on such things so that this is not so common.” Reflecting on Shelley’s endeavors regarding crude sexism, Ian Scott ’20 recounted his thoughts on the matter: “I feel like what happened to her is pretty unfair to her accomplishments. It’s very of upsetting that people think that just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean she can’t have original and creative ideas. It saddens me that even today there are still sexist and, towards women, prejudice thoughts and actions.” Scott also shared things to consider regarding the prevention of such: “Hopefully we can avoid this in the future, knowing that it is wrong. I think we should be more open and mindful of individuals and their own ideas.” Shelley’s illustrated experiences along with responses from students show that sexism has been, and still is today, extremely relevant and how everyone, no matter who they are, has their own creative ideas.
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science and Technology
Lower School Science Exposition on display At Wilmington Friends School, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is enthusiastically emphasized because of the benefits which it brings, not just to the individual, but the whole student body. For Upper School students, activities in these fields can be seen in various clubs, classes, and competitions. However, in the Lower School, students are inspired to be interested in these fields through the Lower School Science Expo. This event, incites curiosity and allows Lower School students to share the science and engineering work which they have been doing in classes with the rest of the Friends community. Everyone in the lower school, from preschool to fifth grade, is represented by this Expo. The Expo will be open to friends, parents, grandparents, and anyone else who is intrigued about what the Lower School has been doing. Each grade level will be showing off the different work which they have investigated recently. For example, the first graders will share their observations and the information they gathered about the mealworms that they have been rearing. They are particularly invested in this because the mealworms have been with them for a long time. The second graders used information about birds to make bird feeders which will attract particular types of birds. They will now use and test them. The third graders have built and tested carts which utilize magnets to perform “tricks”: a fun, but also educational, device to teach the kids about complex physics
concepts. Each of the scientific explorations which a grade is undertaking is unique, and inspires a love of the area for these students. These hands on experiences are unequivocally necessary to the development of students at Wilmington Friends School. This is an area which the school excels. Jordan Ranji ’20 explained how the environment at Friends shaped him: “My old school which I went to until 6th grade didn’t have science at all, so every-
into their future careers. While inspiring students is one goal of the Lower School Science Expo, Tim Dalby, the Pre-K to 4th grade science teacher at Friends, explained that “in Lower School, we stress the process over product. What I like about the Science Expo is that it allows students to explain to others the process they went through to create what they have on display.” Mr. Dalby is the teacher in charge of the Expo. The idea of process over product is stressed throughout Friends school. This can be seen through the work done by the robotics club in the Upper School. “We’ve been able to achieve more and more success in competitions in recent years due to what we have learned from whatever mistakes we’ve made in previous years, whether they were related to mechanical mistakes from designing our robot, or configuring the software that helps make our robot actually perform tasks,” said Daniel Adebi ‘18, a clerk of the robotics team for the Upper School. The idea of learning from mistakes and putting the process first is stressed all throughout Friends. The Science Expo has the opportunity to capitalize on teaching these skills to young students, and engage them with the school community, and bring forth exciting possibilities. The Expo will be held in the small gym at the Lower School. It opens on Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Friday, May 11th and concludes after Science and Math Night on Monday, May 14. It will be a joyous celebration of STEM where the Lower School students will have the opportunity to show off all that they have done and learned. Photo by flickr.com
James Tallman ’19 Science and Technology Writer
Kids enjoy learning science
thing I learned in science came from Friends. They ignited my passion because of some of the hands on things or labs we did which I found fun.” Not only are the Lower School students getting these opportunities, but they are getting a head start on other schools. Friends is inspiring students to have a lifelong love of science, which very well might lead them
Wilmington Friends School: An Eco school Elise Johnson ’21 Science and technology Editor Wilmington Friends School took yet another step towards sustainability by becoming officially registered as an Eco-School by the NWF (National Wildlife Federation). Austin Sarker-Young ’22 made the proposal for this project back in the fall, and it has been successfully carried out by the Eco-Team. This team consists of students from the Lower, Middle, and Upper schools as well as faculty members from each. In fact, the NWF requires all Eco-Teams to be made up of at least 50% students, and the Eco-Team at Friends surpasses that expectation. Other schools in the area who have become Eco-Schools are Ursuline and St Andrews. Now that Friends is an Eco-School, what’s next? There are actually multiple levels of Eco-Schools. Sarker-Young explains, “Certification has 3 levels: Bronze, silver, and green flag. We are registered, and are looking towards earning the the Bronze.” There are seven steps that need to be completed before we reach the bronze level let alone the green flag level. These steps are: Form an Eco-Action Team, Conduct An Audit, Create an Eco-Action Plan, Monitor and Evaluate Progress, Link to Existing Curriculum, Involve the Community, and Create Your Eco-Code. According
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to Saker-Young, the Eco-Team is on step three and moving on to step four. In working towards that goal of becoming a full fledged Eco-School, the Eco-Team has to complete a project which would make our school more environmentally friendly. Sarker-Young commented that, “Our project is building a meadow behind the tennis courts. The slopes behind the tennis courts are barren. This would increase the biodiversity and make the school look better.” In theory, this project sounds like a wonderful addition to our school. More benefits to the meadow are explained by Estelle Hegenbarth ’21. Hegenbarth says, “Bio classes and other science classes will be able to use it for educational purposes.” The meadow will provide a space similar to the outdoor classroom at the Lower School. However, Sarker-Young also added that, “We need around $1,200 to buy the plants to for the meadow. The eco team has a sub fundraising committee whose job is to raise the money. The school has offered $400 “seed” money, but only if the students can provide $400 of their own. If the middle school provides $200, then the Upper School would be left with the responsibility of the remaining $200. Although some people feel opposed to just donating to the Eco-Team, the reward is worth it because the Eco-School certification will last for years and the meadow will also be there for students to admire in the years to come. This is
a student initiative being funded by the students for their place of education.” For any project to succeed, it needs support from those who will benefit from it and any contribution helps. When asked about the impact that being an EcoSchool has on Friends, Carlos Charriez, Middle School science teacher, reasoned that, “Becoming an eco school could make a big impact on WFS. It helps highlight our commitment to being responsible stewards of the earth.” Charriez continues to explain the impact on others saying, “If I were a visitor to campus, I think it would send an important message to me to not only see signs with the Quaker testimonies, but be able to walk around campus and see how the testimony of stewardship is playing out in our program. Having “eco stops” during a tour of our campus would really pull together all the initiatives we have in place related to service, growing food, capturing water, renewable energy and biodiversity.” Everyday students and faculty members strive to exemplify the Quaker values, and adding improvements to our school is just another way of giving back to the community. The Eco-Team is working hard to continue their work with the NWF, gaining a higher level of recognition, and making a more sustainable and eco-friendly school. If anyone is interested in joining the team, Friends students of all ages are welcome. Go EcoTeam!
may ISSUE 2018 THE WHITTIER MISCELLANY
Sports
Quaker lacrosse gives back to the community have this opportunity. Watching little kids learn how to catch and throw while also learning other critical skills brought me joy. I would love to volunteer again Earlier in the spring, the Wilmington Friends and give even more kids the opportunity to enjoy this School boys and girls lacrosse teams lent their skills amazing sport.” to aid some of the less fortunate kids Many adult figures of the Wilmof inner city Wilmington at Nativity ington Friends community were also Prep School. A majority of these kids there to help. Jake Rashkind, the WFS came from public schools that did not lacrosse coach, was able to join and have the access to the materials needed give constructive guidance. He was for the sport. The US Lacrosse organimainly there to give helpful instruczation normally holds clinics for kids tion to the new students of the game who want to compete in the sport nawhile participating in certain drills and tionally. This time, the Sankofa Clinic activities. He was named Coach of the Series came to Wilmington, Delaware year in 2017 after an outstanding 17-1 to encourage many underprivileged season. He had this to say about his individuals to learn about the sport of experiences with the clinics: “It was lacrosse. Created in 2013, The Sankoa great opportunity for our players to fa Lacrosse Foundation is focused on make a difference by introducing the supporting efforts to expand the reach basic skills to many kids for the first of the game, especially in underprivtime. Our players really took the iniileged and economically challenged tiative in taking leadership roles and it communities. was so rewarding to see them enjoying For this specific clinic, 100 kids the gift of teaching someone to scoop from Nativity Prep, Servium Academy, or catch for the first time. I think it Mount Pleasant High School, and Hillwas a great reminder for our kids that top Lutheran Neighborhood Center giving of one’s time and effort is such joined the WFS lacrosse teams to para worthwhile endeavor. I don’t know if The Ferris School’s laccrosse team before their game against Salesianum, accomticipate in drills, fun and encouraging I could point to one favorite moment, panied by members of the WFS lacrosse Ttam mini games, and real game scenarios but I certainly enjoyed seeing so many that would improve their overall lasmiles as people from our school concrosse skills. Coaches also wanted to mon goal. During the clinic the kids from our school nected with young athletes who were excited to learn make sure that these kids would feel comfortable with helped run drills and give the less experience kids ad- this game.” the sport so that they could go out and play with their vice. In particular I remember my Dad and I teaching Other coaching staff from the boys team attendrespective teams in the spring. a 6 year-old how to catch and throw. The smile of his ed including Lee Powers, an important figure in the The Sankofa coaches aided and gave critical in- face when he finally caught the ball was really some- Wilmington lacrosse community. Coach Powers struction to the kids, and Wilmington Friends lac- thing special that I will remember for a long time.” helped set up the clinics and has devoted his time and crosse players were right there helping too. Whether Many other WFS athletes shared their experiences in- energy towards the community as helped start the Ferit was simply having a catch on the side with someone cluding Ajala Elmore ’20, a member of the WFS girls ris Lacrosse Program which has grown immensely in or assisting the coaches with drills, the Quakers were lacrosse team that attended the clinics: “I thought it the past years. Coach Powers worked with Due to the there to aid. Peyton Mcneil ’19, a lacrosse player on was an amazing experience to bring one of my favorite hard work, the lacrosse community has grown greatly the WFS team, commented on his experiences: “The sports into the inner city to kids that normally don’t .as we continue to encourage others to join the sport. clinics brought everyone in the community together. Their were people from all backgrounds and situations that came together to have fun. All these kids that were at the camp were learning the values of teams sports like leadership and coming together for a com-
wdel.com
Nick Redd ’20 Sports Writer
The big stage: are middle school athletes ready? CARLIN BESKRONE ’19 SPORTS EDITOR In January 2018, the town of Saugerties, New York was brought to national attention because of the athletic phenom Dior Johnson, a 6 foot tall seventh grader who was the starting point guard for Saugerties High School. In his first season of high school basketball, he averaged 25 points per game, had several 30+ point games, and earned praise from his coach, who says he is “creating his own three point line. He just needs to take to ball and do him.” Last year, he became the youngest player in the state’s history to reach 1,000 points. He said that he actually wanted to play varsity as a sixth grader, but the state would not allow him to, as in New York, the youngest one can play varsity athletics is seventh grade. The topic of middle school students playing high school sports has been hotly debated through many different mediums, including Wilmington Friends School. Many people believe that middle school students playing up could have serious benefits. Peyton McNeill ’19 explains how it could potentially help with the college search: “Yes, middle school students playing up could have a serious benefit. There’s a lot kids that will not be able to go to college without sports, and sometimes, and since there’s such an abundance of high school athletes that want the same
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thing you do, it can be hard to get noticed. It’s great to have an edge like that. If someone can say that they were good enough to play varsity in middle school, that gets attention.” In today’s competitive collegiate education system, it can be very difficult for someone to afford that level of education, and sports can help someone afford it. Middle school students playing up can help get the edge they need to get noticed. Despite the potential edge playing up can give kids, it could also inhibit their ability to play at a higher level. Baseball Coach Jonathan Huxtable comments on the possible qualms college coaches have about looking at middle schoolers play varsity sports: “As it relates to a student athlete’s success in the sport, I think an eighth grader playing as a member of a varsity program has no bearing on their future college recruitment possibilities. Its too young. It is too early to see what kind of lasting athletic impact they will have, particularly for boys, who go through much more physical growth changes during that time between their eighth grade year and their junior year… it is so much harder to anticipate what kind of athlete they’re going to be. I do not think it has any bearing on their collegiate athletic career.” Even if middle schoolers are skilled enough to play varsity sports, there body still has a lot of developing to do, and this leads to uncertainty about their athleticism in the future. Despite the benefits playing up can have for certain
players, it is controversial because in Delaware it is not available to everyone. In Delaware, the rule is that if a schools middle school and high school are physically in the same building, then the middle school students can play for that schools varsity team. However, the only public school that has this opportunity is Delmar High School. This gives some independent schools a distinct advantage. Quentin McAbee ’19 commented, “This seems a little unfair to me. If there is a kid that is really good in middle school, he gets the chance to mature for another year while he plays at the varsity level. But at the same time, the public schools have a much bigger selection of players to choose from than middle schools, so it could cancel out… There are definitely pros and cons.” Despite the fact that it could give the independent schools an advantage, the public schools also have many more potential players to choose from. All across the country, there are kids trying to get a college education by playing sports. Because there are so many of these kids, however, it is difficult to get exposure. One of the ways to get exposure is to play varsity sports as a middle schooler. This impressive feat can earn you attention, much like it did for Dir Johnson. However, coaches also have misgivings about recruiting middle schoolers, as their bodies still need to develop. Also, this option is not available to everyone due to DIAA rules. This is a hotly debated topic and will continue to be so for years to come.
May issue 2018 THE WHITTIER MISCELLANY
community
College List: Class of 2018 University of Southern California
Daniel Adebi.................................................Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mary Agne....................................................University of Vermont Donovan Aldridge........................................University of Delaware Tim Arnold...................................................University of California, Los Angeles Robert Baldwin............................................Cabrini University Tony Bennett................................................Harvard University John Blackwell.............................................Connecticut College Aaron Brick.................................................Dickinson College Ashley Brooks..............................................Loyola Marymount University Steven Butterfield........................................Moravian College Matt Byer.....................................................Bard College Ryan Chompre............................................Vanderbilt University Lawson Chou..............................................Virginia Tech Sammie Conner...........................................La Salle University Chad Connors.............................................Virginia Tech Johns Hopkins University Jack Coons..................................................University of Notre Dame Mike Coons.................................................University of Pennsylvania Emma Davis................................................University of Delaware Natalie DePaulo..........................................Georgetown University Marie DeVoll...............................................George Washington University Hailey DiCindio..........................................Tufts University Kasey Drane................................................American University Mikayla Echevarria....................................University of Delaware Cecilia Ergueta............................................Stanford University Anna Erskine...............................................University of Richmond Ryan Fischer................................................University of Southern California Ethan Fruchtman........................................Tulane University Serena Gutsche............................................University of Edinburgh Johns Hopkins University Jay Handwerk..............................................High Point University Jack Hanson................................................ Davidson College River Harper................................................Salisbury University Brendan Haubert.........................................Villanova University Hareena Houston.........................................Connecticut College Sam Huo.......................................................University of Delaware Alice Irwin....................................................American University Sissi Jian.......................................................Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Leah Johnson...............................................Carleton College Lizzie Kane...................................................Rollins College Atim Kilama.................................................University of Arizona Abby Kleman...............................................American University University of Southern California Andrew Knotts.............................................University of Miami Evie Kortanek...............................................Carleton College Klara Lenges.................................................Virginia Tech Emma Lewis.................................................Goucher College Faith Lewis...................................................West Chester University Jake Luckangelo...........................................Elon University Sloan Maas....................................................Dickinson College Davis MacKelcan..........................................Bucknell University Maddie Malone.............................................Lehigh University Danny Manley...............................................Georgetown University Maggie Martelli-Raben.................................University of Miami Delaney Martin..............................................University of Delaware Jeffrey McAbee..............................................Ursinus College Jake Morris....................................................Washington University in St. Louis Marley Morton...............................................University of Toledo Douglas Nie.....................................................Boston College Olivia O’Donnell.............................................Temple University Max Okolo.......................................................Drexel University Grace Para......................................................Eckerd College Alex Patterson................................................Johns Hopkins University Max Pickles.....................................................Bard College Eric Pincus......................................................Denison University Ada Plumb......................................................Rollins College Maya Powell...................................................Temple University Dalton Ramsey................................................Gettysburg College Izze Rios..........................................................University of Delaware Nate Ruhl........................................................Haverford College Fiona Saunders...............................................Colgate University Jason Saville....................................................Villanova University University of Pennsylvania Victoria Schroeder..........................................Western University Nick Sotiropoulos...........................................Pennsylvania State University Louisa Spinner................................................Mount Holyoke College Pen Trainer......................................................Furman University Henry Tucker...................................................Drexel University Nick Williams..................................................Pennsylvania State University Mia Wilson......................................................Elon University Ryan Wolynetz................................................University of Delaware
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Northeastern University
Villanova University
May ISSUE 2018 THE WHITTIER MISCELLANY