By Richard Fuller

Quick Summary

Soon we will need to plan to rebuild the space that was formerly the Friend in Residence (FiR) apartment.

• We could rebuild the apartment as it was in 2007.
• We could rebuild it as was in 1995 –a small one-bedroom apartment– and gain another classroom/meeting-room.
• We could rebuild the whole area as public space and gain two classrooms/meeting-rooms.

As a preparation for our decision, TCFM will hold two information-sharing meetings in January to focus on the needs of First Day School (FDS). Later we will focus on the importance of having a FiR vs. relying on a non-resident building manager. Please come.

Extended Narrative

I’ve heard many stories now, about children’s First Day School (FDS) experiences, some from people who were in FDS and are now parents of kids in FDS. Many kids remember a special teacher who made a difference in their lives. I haven’t heard of a child who complained or exclaimed about the classrooms, except to say they like the attic, or the Grotto. So there’s no problem? Talk to teachers and parents, and it’s a different story. Mold in the Grotto. Only a marginal emergency exit from the attic. People going through the North Conference Room class to get to the class in the South Conference Room. People walking through the class in the Fireplace Room to go up the stairs. Classes in the Fellowship room disturbed by coffee klatschers, cross-traffic, and kitchen talk. Room dividers and accordion doors that don’t shut out distracting conversations, especially during silent worship. And there’s little convenient storage space for class materials. Could we call these “challenges” which we can surmount on the path to providing stimulating religious education for our children, or are they “obstacles,” more than any teacher/parent should be asked to overcome?

New classrooms would not be as homey as what we have now. I think most Friends suspect “nice and new” might turn out to be “sterile.” We want “adequate,” not “perfect.”

How far are we from having “adequate” classroom space in which to do religious education? That is the question we will address on January 10 and on January 25, from 1PM to 2:30PM. (See below for details of “where.”)
The reason we are examining this in early 2009 is that we have to decide how to reconstruct the Friend in Residence (FiR) apartment as part of repairing our sick building. We could make it smaller, freeing up a room that served as a meeting-room/classroom in the 1990s. Or we could eliminate the FiR apartment completely and gain two classrooms. But what about the Whitley Motts? And doesn’t having a FiR mean we can offer our facilities to outside groups more easily than we could with a non-resident building manager? These are important questions. However, we are beginning the official Meeting-wide conversation with the two January discussions focused on the adequacy of our current FDS classes. In February we will ask the questions, “Could we get along without a FiR? Do we want to?” After that, more conversations, weighing the pros and cons, followed by a decision about how we will rebuild, at a special Called MWB.

But for now, the questions are:

• What, generally, is the FDS experience like, for children and adults?
• How close to adequate are our current classrooms?
• What are the additional minimum needs?
• What are the additional maximum needs? (We might continue to grow, you know.)
• Where on our property (and in the neighborhood) might we find satisfactory retrofits or supplements?

Saturday, January 10, 1:00 – 2:30PM at FRIENDS SCHOOL

Parents with children are especially encouraged to consider this session, at Friends School Minnesota. The Gym will be open for supervised play, while adults and interested children gather in the adjacent community room to learn and share about our possible future directions. We will have juice and snacks for everyone, near the end.

Sunday, January 25, 1:00 – 2:30PM, at TCFM

For people who did not attend the January 10 meeting, please come to one or the other.

And please comment here, if you have reactions to what I have written.

Thanks,

Richard

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