Amish teens have been taught to focus on their community rather than themselves. They are rewarded with praise for the completion of hard tasks or jobs to serve the community. Free from the individualistic culture of mainstream society, they do not have to worry about “fitting in” by having the most fashionable clothing or material things. They don’t have the same social pressures that many mainstream teens have such as the media, which can influence the way that teens view their bodies and behaviors. The Amish are expected to decide whether or not they want to continue their Amish membership in their teens. They go through a time period called, Rumspringa, which allows the teens to try things that they haven’t had the chance to try before because of their culture. After the end of this period, they decide whether or not they would like to continue their Amish membership. If so, they are required to get baptized officially into the Amish community. If not, they are free to leave the Amish community and venture off on their own.
Amish teenagers are shielded from the negative media, social expectations, and society rules that mainstream teenagers are subjected to. Because of this, Amish teens have high self-esteem. However, mainstream teenagers tend to need self-esteem boosts from all of the negative feedback they hear in society. Amish teens also have the opportunity to explore mainstream society during Rumspringa. They are able to dress like mainstream teens, buy the same items, and even drive around in automobiles. However, because of their background, many of them turn this freedom down to return to their Amish roots. They were raised in a culture that values community. They tend to want to contribute to their communities, families, and friends. This is one of the reasons why many Amish teens tend to return to their Amish communities after a period of relative freedom.
Bibliography
Stevick, Richard A.
2007. Growing Up Amish. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Medicine
Most Amish people will seek proper medical attention when it is required. However, they believe that they shouldn’t interfere with the will of God. Therefore, they try not to interfere with the elderly who suffer from terminal illnesses. They believe that their lives are in God’s hands. I can understand this because they believe that birth and death is a natural part of life. I can see how they would believe in this. The Amish turn to herbal and home remedies to cure mild illnesses. For example, they take care of their health by drinking herbal teas, eating healthy foods, and getting enough exercise. When they can’t take care of their health by home remedies, then they will seek help elsewhere.
The Amish will bring their young sick and injured members to high-tech hospitals when they are beyond the help of home remedies and folk medicine. However, they do not like doing this because they feel awkward and out of place. Mainstream society tends to go to hospitals more often than the Amish for little health issues. This is because we tend to rely on doctors, nurses, and other health specialists more than home remedies.
Bibliography
McKusick, Victor.
2009. Amish Studies: Health. Internet Document. http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Health.asp. Accessed November 5, 2009.
The Amish will bring their young sick and injured members to high-tech hospitals when they are beyond the help of home remedies and folk medicine. However, they do not like doing this because they feel awkward and out of place. Mainstream society tends to go to hospitals more often than the Amish for little health issues. This is because we tend to rely on doctors, nurses, and other health specialists more than home remedies.
Bibliography
McKusick, Victor.
2009. Amish Studies: Health. Internet Document. http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Health.asp. Accessed November 5, 2009.
Schooling
It is mandatory for Amish children to attend school until the eighth grade. After the eighth grade, the children go on to work in their community. The Amish do not believe in higher education because they believe that higher education creates feelings of pride, a big ego, and a loss of community work and faith. However in many cases, Amish children score higher than public school children. The school houses are one room and a young woman usually teaches the students. The U.S government requires that the students are taught in English, but when most Amish children enter school they are learning English for the first time. The main language of the Amish is German, which comes from their original roots in Europe. Amish children generally do not learn about science. Because of their religion, they do not believe in evolution, so they refuse to teach about it in school.
Mainstream society has many different standards in education than the Amish. However, can I say that it is better? The Amish have a well-developed education system which is an excellent way to teach students the subjects that they need to know to practice their trades or careers in their communities. In mainstream society, we encourage higher education. In Amish society, higher education is considered unethical because they believe that it creates feelings of pride. While an eighth grade education may not be acceptable in mainstream society, for the Amish, it is appropriate. Their education prepares them for their Amish lives. I can understand why they follow this system.
Bibliography
Stevick, Richard A.
2007. Growing Up Amish. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.
Mainstream society has many different standards in education than the Amish. However, can I say that it is better? The Amish have a well-developed education system which is an excellent way to teach students the subjects that they need to know to practice their trades or careers in their communities. In mainstream society, we encourage higher education. In Amish society, higher education is considered unethical because they believe that it creates feelings of pride. While an eighth grade education may not be acceptable in mainstream society, for the Amish, it is appropriate. Their education prepares them for their Amish lives. I can understand why they follow this system.
Bibliography
Stevick, Richard A.
2007. Growing Up Amish. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.
Amish Communities
The Amish lead simple, uncomplicated lives. They live in many different states in the United States, but the majority of them live in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. The Old Order Amish originally came to America from Switzerland where they eventually settled in Pennsylvania when William Penn created a place without religious persecution. Since then, the Amish have kept their old-world traditions. They practice a form of Christianity; they follow the Bible and its teachings. They live in small, tight-knit communities allowing them to get around easily by horse and buggy to visit friends and family members, who never live too far apart from each other. Family ties are extremely important to the Amish. They choose to live without electricity, automobiles, technology, fashion, and higher education because they feel that these things take away their religious and moral values. If a member of an Amish community steps away from the Amish culture, the rest of the community will “shun” the individual. They cherish working together as a community.
While family and community are important in modern day American society, the individual tends to be valued. Families are sometimes separated by distance depending on where each family member decides to live. Individual success is prioritized over the success of a community or culture. The Amish have removed the pieces from modern day technology and culture that would “encourage” their children to grow apart from the Amish culture. They believe that technology puts more emphasis on the individual. With this belief and through their religion, they shun technology and modern conveniences. This brings them closer together as a community.
William C. Lindholm
1997. Origins of the Old Order Amish. Internet Document,
http://www.holycrosslivonia.org/amish/origin.htm. Accessed November 5, 2009.
While family and community are important in modern day American society, the individual tends to be valued. Families are sometimes separated by distance depending on where each family member decides to live. Individual success is prioritized over the success of a community or culture. The Amish have removed the pieces from modern day technology and culture that would “encourage” their children to grow apart from the Amish culture. They believe that technology puts more emphasis on the individual. With this belief and through their religion, they shun technology and modern conveniences. This brings them closer together as a community.
Bibliography
1997. Origins of the Old Order Amish. Internet Document,
http://www.holycrosslivonia.org/amish/origin.htm. Accessed November 5, 2009.
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