What the UFA Should Learn From UFS

by Auden Watts

The UFS Governate is one of four governates in the UFA. While it was formally established at the same time as the Charter Arts Governate, the school's history within the UFA predates that of Charter Arts by four months. Even before the nation's establishment at UFS, its students (Frendians? Frendish?) had held the idea in their hearts. Many influential figures in the United Friends of America originate from UFS, including our current vice president, Auden Watts, and our secretary of state, Galileo Townsend. The Constitution was also ratified by a citizenry composed entirely of UFS students. But what makes the birthplace of our nation, the UFS Governate, so special?

United Friends School is located in Eastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1983, it is a cooperative school based on Quaker traditions. UFS students are taught the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. The school is so deeply rooted in egalitarian principles that students call teachers by their first names, a controversial practice found in almost every Quaker school. The school's curriculum emphasizes a connection to nature, the environment, and each other.

The UFS Governate has fallen from its former glory. It now boasts only a small fraction of the UFA's population, and many of its citizens have either graduated or left the school. Even within the governate, the UFA has lost prominence. However, it can help to illuminate the path ahead for the nation as a whole. At UFS, no individual is perfect, but they are all part of the same community. Nobody is seen as more important than anyone else, and conflict resolution is a central part of the school culture. The same should be applied in the UFA, a nation that often fails to resolve its disagreements peacefully and constructively. Consensus is an important part of the decision-making process at UFS. While democracy is vital to any form of government, voting can only go so far in enacting social change. UFS teaches students to hear each other out and reach an egalitarian solution. In addition, UFS places heavy emphasis on stewardship of the environment. As Americonian citizens, it is our duty to care for the land on which we all live. 

It is important to note that the United Friends of America is not a Quaker nation, and Quakerism as a religion should not play a role in the Americonian government. However, the Quaker ideals that UFS teaches are valuable to any nation, and arguably vital to the success of a political project.

United Friends School is the birthplace of the United Friends of America, and all citizens, even those who have never set foot on the land, should appreciate the values of UFS. This school is not only the heritage of the Americonian people, but a lantern that illuminates the path to our future as well.