Journal, April 2, 2006—Ramallah

Photos: The Basics of Quakerism—taught by Joshuah Lilande

Other photos and writing

The Basics of Quakerism

Photographing Joshuah Ligane Lilande, Quaker in residence from Kenya at the Ramallah Friends School, teaching Quaker ethics for the year (among other duties, such as establishing a museum and helping design a conflict resolution and peace building curriculum) as he taught a sixth grade class. I was astonished at his energy--unrelenting, funny, demanding, interactive, dramatic, engaging, joyous. All the qualities I hope for in myself as a teacher. Eventually he land the students listed what he regards as the pivotal Quaker virtues: including honesty, discipline, truth, community, peace. He rarely purely lectured, but always worked in the manner of, "Now when you have work to do and you are too tired to really want to do it, what do you need?"

"Discipline, correct! Good!"

A large man with a booming, melodious, British-accented voice--he attends Sunday meeting for worship and inspires me with his singing--he moves gracefully, throwing his body into colorful positions. He darts back and forth from the board to the children, keeping them in eye contact most of the time, yet writing very legibly on the board. He ended--at least by the time I left to get to the International Solidarity Movement's media office on time--with games, gathering the children to him much like the Amari refugee camp teacher did, maximizing bodily contact. Lena, the math teacher for this group, stayed the entire time and dealt with a few discipline problems.

Later I learned that he has contracted for a two-year period. June 2006 marks the end of his first school year. The second is in doubt because of funding problems. The school requires him to raise his own funds, and these are very slow to arrive. People interested in supporting his excellent work can contact Friends United Meeting at the address below.

Postscript, and indicative of the reality of occupation:

The school invited another Kenyan to teach for at least one year, but the Israeli embassy in Kenya denied him a visa. And Joshuah himself, in Kenya a pastor, teacher, principal and clerk of yearly meeting of Quakers, he had to apply for a visa more than three times before the Israel government granted it to him. Joshuah believes the Israelis were suspicious not because they fear he might be a terrorist or intent on harming the security of the nation but because he might be criminal.

Joshuah Lilande, field staff thru Friends United Meeting