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.