San Francisco Friends School

All four posts from Jan. 29 are inconsistent with our experience at Friends. The administration and environment are highly supportive of the students, and there couldn't be a more inclusive environment for kids. My child is thriving there and happy to go to school every single day. And as the Feb. 14th post noted - no one at Friends would ever call our Head of School the "Principal". It's a tip-off right away that the Jan. 29th poster is from outside the community. And why would anyone pay to send their child to a school where she's miserable - for 7 years??? It's absurd.
--Submitted by a parent

My child had an extremely negative experience with the teaching style at this school, which went unaddressed by the unhelpful administration. There were also bullying problems and a problematic attitude around money within the parent community which made us feel pretty uncomfortable. :(
--Submitted by a parent

I can totally groove with the intentions behind the creation of this school, but ultimately, its institutional nature overcame its noble ideals. While my child is not scarred for life, I do not feel that their education has been as creative and loving as it could have been. Specifically, I am disappointed in the middle school administration, who seem to value product over experience. However, I do appreciate the Quaker values and the Meeting For Worships held every Wednesday, as I feel my child has been instilled with superior spiritual knowledge from spending some time alone with their thoughts. Peace&Love ~~~~~~Larry
--Submitted by a parent

U N S A T I S F A C T O R Y. No child should go here.
--Submitted by a teacher

I think overall this is a great environment to be a kid! Great teachers and facility. What else is there to say? Back to school....
--Submitted by a parent

My kids love their school. The school fosters a love of learning, among all the other obvious positives.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree completely with the previous review. Friends is a wonderful school in every way -- the leadership, faculty, the new facility, the kids -- everything! Cathy Hunter is an open-minded and open-hearted Head of School with a great sense of humor, and her faculty is first-rate. Apparently, the one nay-sayer in this forum is not familiar with the long history of Quaker Schools' classroom management techniques, and I believe that he or she sadly underestimates what children are capable of. I have heard no other complaints about this in my eight years of close association with the school.

Don't go by one negative opinion - check this school out yourself. We've had completely the opposite experience at Friends. We love it! We've been there for years and have never ever seen children have to sit still and be quiet in a punitive way. That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard! My own child is definitely a wriggly chatty type and the beauty of the school is they embrace all types of kids. He's never been 'called out' as the previous poster said. We, like the other posters, couldn't be happier, and are really happy with Cathy Hunter and the administration, especially this year with their addition of new academic deans, I think this school is only getting better and better. Perhaps the previous unhappy poster (who incidentally admits their child is doing well) should find a school that won't disappoint him/her so much!
--Submitted by a parent

I'm the June 29th poster. I am not disgruntled, rather I am disappointed. I expected a school that assessed each child strengths and weaknesses and then adapted its teaching style accordingly. I found many children languishing (mine is doing well, fortunately). Classroom management is, I believe, age-inappropriate in the lower school. Children must sit still and silently or they are called out in front of their peers. (Of course, the wigglers and chatterers are those not well-served by the teacher.) Any attempt to question the teacher or Cathy Hunter on curriculum or methodology is met with a general defensiveness. The faculty and administration do not want to engage with parents in a thoughtful manner. As you might have guessed, I have more than a passing knowledge in K-8 education and wanted to pass along an informed view to other parents.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is great! I go there and I learn about a zillion things a day. I even look forward to going to school! They have afterschool classes and lots of extra programs. It's a very safe place, too. I can't name one bully!
--Submitted by a student