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The Amish: Education and Beliefs

Anabaptist, New Order

Who They Are

The Amish are a group of people who live simply and abide by church teachings. Born out of the Anabaptist movement, the Amish were formed in 1693 when Swiss Anabaptist leader Jakob Amman felt the church leaders were not holding steadfast to the separation from the world. He instilled a stricter code to live by, which governed education, use of technology and the basic way of life. The Amish emigrated to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, settling mainly in Pennsylvania, but also in other states such as Indiana, Ohio and New York, and in Ontario, Canada.

Educational Beliefs

The Amish attend private schools within their own communities only through the eighth grade. They have these schools because they felt they were losing some control over the nurture of their children in the 1940s and 1950s following the consolidation of small public schools into larger ones. A 1972 U.S. Supreme Court ruling decided that Amish children could end their formal education at the age of 14. Amish education is primarily focused on reading, writing, math and Amish history. Additionally, Amish boys learn farming techniques, while Amish girls learn homemaking skills.

The School

Amish children attend school in a private one-room school, typically run by Amish parents. The school board consists of three to five fathers who choose the teacher and approve the curriculum. Classroom instruction is conducted in the English language. The teachers are mostly Amish women who have been graduates of the Amish schooling system. There are typically three to four students per grade.

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The Simple Life

The Amish firmly believe living a simple lifestyle because they see modern conveniences as worldly. There are different sects or affiliations of Amish, including Beachy Amish, Amish Mennonites, New Order Amish and Old Order Amish. Some sects or affiliations allow some modern conveniences. For example, some affiliations allow some usage of electricity and indoor bathrooms, while others do not. Additionally, many do not allow the use of cars and instead use horse-drawn buggies. Some groups use some form of electricity, while others simply use kerosene lanterns. Generally, the Amish are selective in their use of modern technology. For example, some Amish permit the use of some forms of electricity, but view televisions and computers as worldly items that would lead them into temptation and stray from the teachings of the church.

Electricity

Different Amish affiliations allow different uses of electricity. For example, some New Order Amish attach electric turn signals to the backs of their buggies. This is evident in some Amish communities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Amish also allow other forms of electricity, including certain types of farm equipment like milking equipment and electric fences to contain cows. Additionally, while most Amish affiliations forbid electricity from public utility companies, they will allow it in the form of batteries to power items such as calculators, fans, flashlights, cash registers and copy machines.

Simple Dress

The Amish typically dress very simply. They make all clothing by hand and use only the most simple ornamentation. For example, the Amish do not use zippers. Instead, they use hooks and eyes or buttons to fasten clothing. Men typically wear straight-cut suits, coats with no collars or pockets, and pants with suspenders. Married men also wear full beards. Amish women wear solid color dresses with long sleeves and a full skirt. Their hair is typically tied back in a bun or braid and covered with a cap.

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Resources

Elizabethtown College: Amish Studies

http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/FAQ.asp

Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School: Rules/Ordnung

http://parker.org/DivisionIII/Class%20Pages/Senior%20Project/Tim%20Roper/Rules.htm

Encyclopedia Britannica: Amish

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/20820/Amish

Elizabethtown College: Amish Studies Education

http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Education.asp