The Amish School

DESCRIPTION:

Revised Edition! Sold more than 50,000 copies in earlier editions!

The Old Order Amish believe that school prepares children for the Amish way of life, for the responsibilities of adulthood, and for eternity. Most communities conduct their own schools, usually taught by Amish teachers.

Sara E. Fisher, an Old Order Amish woman, taught a one-room school for seven years. This is her fascinating insider’s view of a typical Amish school. Includes “Diary of an Amish Schoolgirl.”

This authoritative book on Amish education deals with many questions:

--Why do the Amish have their own schools?
--What goals do Amish teachers have for their “scholars?”
--How are teachers chosen?
--How are the parents involved?
--What curriculum materials are used?
--What about children with special needs?

Co-author Sara Fisher writes from her experience as an Amish schoolteacher; co-author Rachel Stahl writes from her years of extensive research.

CONTENTS:

Reasons for Amish Schools
How Amish Schools Came to Be
How the Supreme Court Became Involved
The First Day of School
How Are the Parents Involved?
A Typical School Day
What Library and Research Materials Do They Use?
“Diary of an Amish Schoolgirl”
How Are Amish Schools Supervised?
Teachers’ Meetings
How Grading Is Handled
Special Times and Holidays
Special Schools for Handicapped Children
The Problems and Joys of Teaching
A Successful Amish Education: One Amish Teacher’s Point of View
Readings and Sources
Index
About the Authors

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sara E. Fisher is a member of the Old Order Amish community in eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She taught eight grades in a one-room Amish school, only stopping in her eighth term because of health reasons.

In the past, Sara helped the Johns Hopkins University Medical School with research among her community and was employed in the kitchen of a local family-style restaurant, as well as held other jobs. In her retirement, she now does cleaning and also works in a local laundry.

Sara makes her home with her sister Ada; together they cared for their elderly parents for many years, until their deaths. Sara enjoys visiting, reading, and cooking.

Rachel K. Stahl was born in and grew up in Europe, where her parents spent two decades working under a Mennonite mission board. She has lived most of her adult life in the United States.

Having had most of her schooling in the German language has been very helpful in the research of this book.

Her hobbies are reading, movie-going, and fixing up her house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.