Sant Bani School
Encyclopedia
The Sant Bani School is a private K-12 day school located in Sanbornton
in the U.S. state
of New Hampshire
. The school was founded in 1973. It currently enrolls approximately 170 students from kindergarten
through twelfth grade. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
; is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
; and is recognized by the IRS
as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.
, a spiritual retreat center founded by Master Kirpal Singh
of New Delhi
, India
, in 1963.
In the decade after its founding, the Ashram attracted a number of families with young children. They wished to create an educational setting which would support a spiritual perspective as well as provide sound scholastic training. From the beginning the school has encouraged the enrollment of students of any background, and the early rapid growth (from six to thirteen to thirty-five in three years) demonstrated interest from the broader community.
By the early 1980s the school had grown so much that it became apparent it should operate independently of the Ashram. In 1983, the school became a separate legal entity from the Ashram, created a new board of directors, and came to own the land on which its buildings stood.
original. Sant can mean "holy", "pure", or "saintly", and Bani can mean the sound current, hymn, teaching, or Word. Ashram
is a generic term used to describe a holy place of retreat, prayer, and service. Thus Sant Bani Ashram could be defined as a retreat place (Ashram) dedicated to the holy (Sant) sound (Bani) or Word of God. Master Kirpal Singh Ji once defined it as “a place where the teachings (Bani) of the Master (Sant) are put to work.”
The work of the ashram is spiritual, whereas the school is dedicated to giving a sound all-around education in the context of and in support of a spiritual way of life. The governing body and the faculty of the Sant Bani School view the two as having distinct purposes which nonetheless are not exclusive of each other.
The essential belief of the Sant Bani School is that God resides within each individual. The school strives to realize this belief through the twin principles of reverence for life and service to all.
The Sant Bani School offers a coeducational day program in a rural setting in central New Hampshire. A cohesive, consistent environment meets the changing needs of students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. A strong academic program, enhanced by co-curricular activities ranging from the arts to athletics, integrates intellectual, creative, and spiritual growth with physical, psychological, and social development.
Preparing students for college is a focus of the upper grades. The curriculum promotes inquiry and thoughtful choice, appreciation of the elements common to all humankind, and respect for the natural environment. The school forms a caring, family-like community, characterized by a low student-faculty ratio and interactions among a variety of age groups. Such an atmosphere gives students the confidence to seek new challenges and adventures, and fosters a sense of responsibility to others. Service projects take place within and beyond the school community.
Essential to carrying out the school’s work is the admission of qualified students from a range of backgrounds who can benefit from and enhance the program. The school embodies its commitment to service through the need-blind admissions policy whereby qualified applicants are admitted without regard to their ability to pay. For a limited number of students with special needs, the school provides a supportive program in which they can achieve success.
The guiding principles of the school are set forth in Kirpal Singh’s talk “Toward the New Education,” given June 21, 1972: “The real aim of education is to develop the character and individuality of the pupil, his mind, will, and soul power. The best education is that which teaches us that the end of knowledge is service. This ‘service’ is another name for love and fellowship, which constitute the very essence of personal and social life…. We envisage such an atmosphere where persons will be able to grow and develop integrally without losing contact with their souls.”
Sant Bani School does not apply pressure on anyone to accept a certain set of beliefs. There are no distinctions made regarding who is or is not associated with the spiritual precepts of the Ashram. Students and faculty of all backgrounds are welcome; the school believes that truth can thrive only when there is freedom of thought and expression.
At the secondary level, the curriculum is a blend of traditional and innovative course choices, designed to prepare students for college or university enrollment. Several specialists work with students one-on-one and in small groups to accommodate a limited number of students with mild learning disabilities.
, Cornell
, Stanford, Middlebury
, McGill
, Smith
, Mount Holyoke
, Oberlin
, Bowdoin
, Williams
, West Point, the Air Force Academy
, and the University of New Hampshire
.
Sanbornton, New Hampshire
Sanbornton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,966 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of North Sanbornton and Gaza.-History:...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. The school was founded in 1973. It currently enrolls approximately 170 students from kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through twelfth grade. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
; is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
; and is recognized by the IRS
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.
History
The Sant Bani School opened with six students in 1973 as a service of Sant Bani AshramAshram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
, a spiritual retreat center founded by Master Kirpal Singh
Kirpal Singh
Sant Kirpal Singh was a spiritual teacher who was born in India in the village of Sayyad Kasran, in the western part of the Punjab which now belongs to Pakistan. Further biographical information is available...
of New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in 1963.
In the decade after its founding, the Ashram attracted a number of families with young children. They wished to create an educational setting which would support a spiritual perspective as well as provide sound scholastic training. From the beginning the school has encouraged the enrollment of students of any background, and the early rapid growth (from six to thirteen to thirty-five in three years) demonstrated interest from the broader community.
By the early 1980s the school had grown so much that it became apparent it should operate independently of the Ashram. In 1983, the school became a separate legal entity from the Ashram, created a new board of directors, and came to own the land on which its buildings stood.
The meaning of the name "Sant Bani"
There are several possible interpretations of the name from the SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
original. Sant can mean "holy", "pure", or "saintly", and Bani can mean the sound current, hymn, teaching, or Word. Ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
is a generic term used to describe a holy place of retreat, prayer, and service. Thus Sant Bani Ashram could be defined as a retreat place (Ashram) dedicated to the holy (Sant) sound (Bani) or Word of God. Master Kirpal Singh Ji once defined it as “a place where the teachings (Bani) of the Master (Sant) are put to work.”
The work of the ashram is spiritual, whereas the school is dedicated to giving a sound all-around education in the context of and in support of a spiritual way of life. The governing body and the faculty of the Sant Bani School view the two as having distinct purposes which nonetheless are not exclusive of each other.
Mission statement
Adopted June 15, 2002:The essential belief of the Sant Bani School is that God resides within each individual. The school strives to realize this belief through the twin principles of reverence for life and service to all.
The Sant Bani School offers a coeducational day program in a rural setting in central New Hampshire. A cohesive, consistent environment meets the changing needs of students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. A strong academic program, enhanced by co-curricular activities ranging from the arts to athletics, integrates intellectual, creative, and spiritual growth with physical, psychological, and social development.
Preparing students for college is a focus of the upper grades. The curriculum promotes inquiry and thoughtful choice, appreciation of the elements common to all humankind, and respect for the natural environment. The school forms a caring, family-like community, characterized by a low student-faculty ratio and interactions among a variety of age groups. Such an atmosphere gives students the confidence to seek new challenges and adventures, and fosters a sense of responsibility to others. Service projects take place within and beyond the school community.
Essential to carrying out the school’s work is the admission of qualified students from a range of backgrounds who can benefit from and enhance the program. The school embodies its commitment to service through the need-blind admissions policy whereby qualified applicants are admitted without regard to their ability to pay. For a limited number of students with special needs, the school provides a supportive program in which they can achieve success.
Philosophy
The students at Sant Bani School come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are encouraged in their own personal growth. The school teaches the equality of all under God, a reverence for life in all its forms, and a dedication to the ideal of service to others. Inspired by the life and works of Kirpal Singh (former President of the World Fellowship of Religions) the school presents teachings that are part of a universal tradition which has expressed itself through all religions and is taught without any denomination.The guiding principles of the school are set forth in Kirpal Singh’s talk “Toward the New Education,” given June 21, 1972: “The real aim of education is to develop the character and individuality of the pupil, his mind, will, and soul power. The best education is that which teaches us that the end of knowledge is service. This ‘service’ is another name for love and fellowship, which constitute the very essence of personal and social life…. We envisage such an atmosphere where persons will be able to grow and develop integrally without losing contact with their souls.”
Sant Bani School does not apply pressure on anyone to accept a certain set of beliefs. There are no distinctions made regarding who is or is not associated with the spiritual precepts of the Ashram. Students and faculty of all backgrounds are welcome; the school believes that truth can thrive only when there is freedom of thought and expression.
Academics
Classes are small by design, with fourteen students as an ideal maximum in the lower grades, and sixteen in the upper grades. Younger and older children interact frequently; this way of life in the school fosters an attitude of cooperation. Sant Bani stresses an ongoing commitment by the students to use their education for the benefit of others.At the secondary level, the curriculum is a blend of traditional and innovative course choices, designed to prepare students for college or university enrollment. Several specialists work with students one-on-one and in small groups to accommodate a limited number of students with mild learning disabilities.
Arts
Art, music, and crafts are integral parts of the daily schedule. Students have the opportunity to participate in activities such as ceramics, weaving, stained glass, photography, printmaking, dance, drama, choral singing, jazz band, and the recorder. Private instruction is available in many instruments including flute, guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, and voice. Elementary and high school students present drama and music programs several times each year.Athletics
Sant Bani School competes inter-scholastically in Alpine and Nordic skiing, Basketball, Cross-country, Equestrian, Field hockey, Soccer, and Track. Recreational sports available to the entire student body include cycling, touch football, hiking, skating, skiing, swimming, as well as organized physical education for grades K-6.After Sant Bani
Sant Bani School enjoys a 100% college acceptance rate and nearly all have chosen to enroll and matriculate in college - many have then continued for higher degrees. Sant Bani School alums have gone on to attend and graduate from colleges and universities such as MIT, DartmouthDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, Cornell
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, Stanford, Middlebury
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, McGill
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Smith
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, Mount Holyoke
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
, Oberlin
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
, Bowdoin
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, Williams
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, West Point, the Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, and the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
.