BREAKING NEWS
14 November 2007
Students, Staff, Parents and Supporters of Maxwell International School
Dear Friends,
Following extensive consultation and after sharing its concerns with the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly has taken the very difficult decision to close the Maxwell International School at the end of the current academic year.
When Maxwell opened 19 years ago, it was with the clear expectation that the school would quickly become self-sustaining and would not draw on the general funds of the Baha’i Faith. Sadly, this has not been the case, in spite of dedicated efforts by so many, and current projections indicate that the financial challenge facing the school will worsen. It was in light of these financial realities that the National Assembly made the decision, with heavy heart, to close the school.
In recognition of the sadness the school’s closing will bring to the family of students, parents and staff at Maxwell, the Assembly has asked two of its members to meet with the Maxwell school community to answer questions and to discuss the decision.
The National Spiritual Assembly deeply appreciates the sacrifice, commitment and vision that have built an excellent school whose achievements will be remembered for generations to come. May this assurance sustain all of Maxwell’s steadfast supporters and allow this year, with its high and united spirit, to fulfill its brilliant promise.
With loving greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF CANADA
Karen McKye,
Secretary
cc: National Spiritual Assembly (9)
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16 November 2007 / 13 Power 164
Dear Baha’i Friends,
Three members of the National Spiritual Assembly have just met with staff, students and supporters of Maxwell International School to convey the attached message which we now hasten to share with you.
As the letter states, the National Assembly has made this decision about Maxwell’s future with heavy heart and asks that you remember Maxwell’s wonderful school community in your prayers.
With loving Baha’i greetings,
Karen McKye, Secretary
Enclosure
cc:
Board of Trustees of Huququ’llah in Canada
Counsellors S. Birkland, A. Boyles, D. Scott
National Spiritual Assembly (9)
All Regional Baha’i Councils
All Auxiliary Board members
All National Committees and Agencies
Document:
Letter From National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada conveying news of closure of Maxwell International Baha’i School (PDF)
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Sigh.
It was only 3 years ago (almost to the day) that I heard the news that Landegg Academy in Switzerland was being closed. For obvious reasons it has no functioning website now. You may view their site in a limited fashion through Archive.org’s cache. Many Baha’is had high hopes for it to grow and develop into a prestigious Baha’i University.
In the end, the foundation which held all the assets of the Academy went into bankruptcy, all the real estate and its collateral were confiscated by the holder of the mortgage (Union Bank of Switzerland) and auctioned off. The foundation which provided the legal structure for Landegg Academy was liquidated and wound up sometime in the spring of 2005.
The reason? It could not create a self-sustaining organization. The same fate is destined for Maxwell International Baha’i School.
The school was started about 20 years ago and named after the parents of May Maxwell, otherwise known as Rúhíyyih Khánum (wife of Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith). Just recently, the school decided to drop the “Baha’i” from its name and become simply Maxwell International School. The NSA didn’t outlined exactly when the school would be closed but it is safe to assume that this is the last scholastic year.
I can’t help but think that this is exacerbated by the deepening crisis in the Canadian Baha’i funds. Maxwell has had ample time to get on its feet. That they haven’t fully is the real reason why they will be closing. Yet I can’t help but think that if the NSA could afford it, they would continue to subsidize it as they had since its inception. That they simply can’t afford to, even though now we have a much larger Baha’i community in Canada than 20 years ago is telling.
Of course, we shouldn’t pick on Canada. The Baha’is of the United States have their own problems in this area. According to the US NSA, the budgetary shortfall was 50% (last time I checked).
This is yet another wake up call. The dwindling amount of funds is a HUGE blinking red light. It is the most indirect, yet unmistakable way of measuring the health of a Baha’i community. Don’t get me wrong. Life is not about money. And the Baha’i Faith isn’t about money, nor should it be. It is simply that when people feel engaged, inspired, moved, transformed, their whole life… including the financial portion is touched. And they naturally, happily choose to support their community through all methods (including cash).
The fast ebbing flow of funds is yet another symptom that the community is not going in the right path. Instead of blaming the members of the community and flagellating them to eke out more money, this should be taken for what it is: a non-verbal and collective message.
What do you think? Is this a message? or are people just not “spiritual” enough to donate sacrificially? or can we blame the economy perhaps?
The Million Book Project, an international venture led by Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, Zhejiang University in China, the Indian Institute of Science in India and the Library at Alexandria in Egypt, has completed the digitization of more than 1.5 million books, which are now available online.
