BhSosa.org.lb
Title
BHS - Old Scholars Association
Description
Brummana High School was founded in 1873 by Theophilus Waldmeier , a Swiss missionary , who joined the Society of Friends and became a Quaker. Waldmeier first came to Lebanon in 1867 and was engaged as inspector of branch schools in Beirut , the mountains and Damascus. In 1873 , he came to Brummana and took charge of the Quaker Girls School. During the subsequent year he bought Birket el Ghanam (20000 square yards of property) , changed its name to Ayn es Salam , and was authorised by owners ,the Friends Syrian Mission , to build the Training Home for boys which now is Brummana High School.
Education in Brummana High School was based on principles as understood by the Society of Friends. These stress lack of involvement in political activity , lack of discrimination , no acknowledgement of national or racial divisions , promotion of the spirit of service and encouragement of the pursuit of higher standards through enlightened methods. Furthermore , the fundamental Quaker belief that there is something of God in every man , made it mandatory for the School to prepare its students intellectually and technically , while imparting to them the spirit of service so that upon graduation they are well equipped to be good servants of their communities. The School did not indulge in mission activity and students' beliefs in their own religions were never challenged or depreciated. Teachers outside the Society of Friends were expected to be in sympathy with Friends' principles and to teach in accordance with them , particularly emphasising moral values , intellectual excellence , self reliance , and respect of the individual.
Before fleeting at the modern history of the Old Scholars Association, it is valuable to commit to memory that, since the foundation of Brummana High School, the Old Scholars never hesitated or wavered from supporting their school within their aptitude.
