The Arcadian Fellowship and Arts & Ideas Elementary

What's the Connection? What's the Difference?

Note: This page is an adaptation of a publication originally produced by Fairhaven School Incorporated and is included here with their permission.

What does Arcadian Fellowship have to do with Arts & Ideas Elementary?

Arts & Ideas Elementary is what is legally termed a "church exempt" school. This means that it operates under the corporate umbrella of the "bona-fide church organization" called Arcadian Fellowship. The philosophical underpinnings of the Fellowship and the school overlap a great deal, while the internal operation and governing structures of the two groups are relatively autonomous.

The Arcadian Fellowship has roots in families and individuals who were deeply committed to the connection between the arts, ideas and to providing nurturing opportunities for young children and their families. The Fellowship sprang from many previous organized efforts to create community, some initiated decades prior.

The Arcadian Fellowship, like Arts & Ideas Elementary, is run democratically, honors individual differences, and respects the individual. It promotes no hidden spiritual agenda at the school, and requires nothing of the school except its continued self-governance as a democracy and its educational freedom.

How does "Church-Exempt Status" affect the school?

The legal relationship between the Fellowship and the school is simply that the school operates within the corporate structure of the Fellowship. The school's insurance is held by the Arcadian Fellowship Corporation, and legal contracts are made between the Fellowship and outside groups, rather than by the school itself. However, the school's bank accounts and budget are maintained and controlled by the school. In addition, consistent with the Fellowship's deeply held beliefs about self-governance, the school's internal decisions are made by the school community itself, with the School Assembly and the School Meeting running the school according to its own governing policies. Donations made to the school are kept entirely distinct from Fellowship funds, and tuition is, of course, also independent of the church's operating funds.

Being a "church-exempt" school makes it possible to fully implement the Sudbury model of education in Maryland. Although state-approved in other states, our model is not in compliance with Maryland State regulations for secular private school licensing directly by the state of Maryland. Our student-led educational program conflicts with the teacher-led, sequential and linear, outcomes-based curricula required by the State. Our desire to allow students to master their own learning and growth without fear of judgment by others also conflicts with requirements for grades and credits in the high school years.

Fortunately, Maryland's regulations are more flexible when it comes to church-exempt schools. We, as a church-exempt school, can follow our educational model to its fullest without having to dilute the philosophy to comply with the state's private school approval process. With church-exempt status, we are a legally registered school, but have the freedom to provide the educational environment we feel is best for our children, without compromise.

What are the beliefs of Arcadian Fellowship?

The Fellowship is committed to the idea that every person must find their own path in life, and that search for one's path is best done in a supportive community. Much like the school (which creates an environment in which students are free to explore the world rather than presenting a specific curriculum), the Fellowship creates a network within which individuals and small groups can explore ideas, follow spiritual interests, and enjoy the stimulation of one another's inquiries, ideas, and companionship. It seeks not to promote a certain set of religious beliefs or a certain form of worship. but to make possible an open and nonthreatening context within which people can consider and follow their own paths.

How and when does the Fellowship meet?

The Fellowship meets quarterly to conduct the business of the corporation and to connect people with common interests. These quarterly gatherings are the starting place for members to generate new activities and discuss ongoing ones.

In addition to these quarterly meetings, the Fellowship sponsors public arts events, a lecture series, media partnerships with other local arts groups and it carries out service missions such as our work with Community Sustainable Agriculture, among others. Individual members may sponsor "study groups" which invite others to join in a particular pursuit. The possibilities are limited only by the interests of the members of the Fellowship and by the tenets of respect for others (no hate groups) and democratic decision-making. While these groups meet under the structural auspices of the Fellowship, they are not necessarily reflective of the beliefs of all Fellowship members, only the principle that people with varying interests and practices can coexist and support one another. Study groups are listed online, and are generally held in the home of one of the sponsors.

A study group of particular interest to parents of the school is the "Talkabout." Our monthly Talkabouts address topics relevant to the philosophy of the School. Of particular concern in our Talkabouts are the challenges of living, parenting and educating in a manner which respects individual diversity and nurtures human dignity and curiosity.

Does a family enrolled at Arts & Ideas Elementary have to join the Fellowship?

Absolutely not. Any family is free to attend or not to attend any meeting of the Fellowship.



Arcadian Fellowship and Arts & Ideas Elementary has been adapted from Fairhaven Fellowship and Fairhaven School, a publication of Fairhaven School Incorporated, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Sudbury model of education in Maryland. For more information on the Fairhaven School call 301-249-8060, e-mail them at staff@fairhavenschool.com, or check out their website at fairhavenschool.com. Fairhaven School welcomes racial, ethnic, and religious diversity and families of every composition.



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