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March 1, 1996
Vol. 53
No. 6

Special Topic / Ernest Boyer: Advisor and Friend

      I received a call this morning telling me of the death of Dr. Ernest Boyer. Tonight, as I sit in my study, I think about the remarkable man I had the privilege of knowing for the last 10 years. And I feel compelled to write about him.
      The first time I heard Ernest Boyer speak was at a conference of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. At that time my colleagues and I were in the process of founding a Friends school in Princeton. As we listened to the words of Dr. Boyer's keynote address, we found ourselves agreeing with all that we heard. “Yes, yes, yes,” we all nodded, as he spoke.
      What he was speaking about was the need for schools to be communities of learning, the importance of making language in all its forms the center of the curriculum, and the need for an integrated and interdisciplinary course of study. His words validated our own beliefs.
      Not only did he validate us, he also lent us a hand. Upon learning about our plans, he agreed to serve on our advisory board. Then, in the spring of 1992 when we held a fund-raising event for a new building, Ernie delivered the keynote address.
      During that event, he spoke about his latest project, “The Basic School.” He explained that the Carnegie Foundation had assembled a network of a dozen schools nationwide to serve as laboratories for The Basic School philosophy. Two of these schools, P.S. 207 in Harlem, New York, and the Tiospa Zina Tribal School in Agency Village, South Dakota, were implementing principles he'd put forth.
      Because Princeton Friends School also implemented many of the Basic School's concepts, this December he invited me to attend a weekend conference for Basic Schools' principals and superintendents. During the meetings, Ernie's strength was flagging. Still, he rallied valiantly to supervise. He was determined to find out what we thought about the ways in which the Foundation might better support the Basic School program and best serve our country's schoolchildren.
      That weekend those of us assembled there knew we were on the cutting edge of the most important school reform movement to come along in a very long time.
      On Sunday morning Ernie's energy was almost entirely sapped, so he invited the group to his home for our final gathering. Ernie spoke passionately of his hopes for America's children. He read aloud the cards and letters he had received from 1st and 2nd graders in one of the network's schools. We sat in silent meditation together, then heard a prayer and a poem. After that, the group presented Ernie with a collection of letters we had written to him describing the impact his work has had on our own lives. That was the last time we saw him.
      As I reflect on that morning, it is clear to me that during this final gathering, four days before his death, Ernie knew that our dedicated group would carry on his vision of the Basic School, even without his direct supervision. That vision was his parting gift to us. It is our challenge to carry out his dream.
      As a first step toward accepting this challenge, I am writing today to urge all educators to learn about The Basic School and consider it deeply. Those teaching in Quaker schools will find the principles are consistent with Friends' testimonies. Those teaching in public schools will find the framework workable. (P.S. 207 and the Tiospa Zina Tribal School set the examples.)
      Although I feel a great loss today, I am also hopeful. I spent most of the day surrounded by children, who reminded me that our work must continue without skipping a beat.
      As I was leaving my office, a shipment of Princeton Friends School stationery arrived. At the top of the list of our advisory board members is Dr. Ernest Boyer. And at the top of the list his name shall remain—as an advisor and inspiration—for a longer time than it will take to use all these reams of paper.

      Jane Fremon has been a contributor to Educational Leadership.

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