History of the Amish (Part 11)

By Magda Adriana

January 1, 2025

History of the Amish Series

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11

 

Until the 1860s there was one group of Amish, but after the first split it seemed like splitting became part of the Amish DNA.

The Amish During the World Wars

During World War I, the Amish and other peace groups were looked down upon for not going to war. As Conscientious Objectors, they were sent to camps where they were often humiliated, especially since they had German roots and spoke a German dialect. The public was suspicious of whether they affiliated with the enemy. They did not understand that the Amish did not identify as German, nor as American. They were simply Amish. Once again, the Amish and Mennonites were tested on their non-resistance beliefs.

During the 2^nd World War, the government had a milder approach towards  CO’s. They were offered alternative service and often worked in hospitals and other facilities. Even though most returned to their Amish communities, a significant number felt they did not fit in anymore and left the Amish, often joining other peace churches.

Amish life since 1945

Tourism
After the war, American life focussed on wealth and enjoyment despite experiencing a life of hard work. People began taking vacations. The Pennsylvania Department of Commerce issued an advertisement encouraging visitors to take a post-war vacation. The add pictured an Amish buggy with the caption “Pennsylvania’s Plain People.” It clearly implied that Old Order folks should be a part of every family’s excursion.

Since then, the relationship between Amish and tourism has grown extensively and has always been ambiguous: on one hand, the Amish prefer to be private and interact little with outsiders. This is especially true for the more conservative groups. On the other hand, many Amish partly depend on tourism for their income by providing buggy tours, selling furniture and quilts, or having a grocery stand on the road side.

Struggle for Freedom of Education

Another issue that arose and caused much trouble in Amish communities was the consolidation of schools. More states made an end to the one room, local schools. They decided that children should receive more in-depth education, and progress beyond 8^th grade. One room school houses were closed and school busses were organized to transport students to large, regional schools. Education became required up to the age of sixteen in most states.

The Amish balked at this idea. The new system loosened ties with local communities. The teachers were unknown to the parents and less involved in their student’s daily lives. Secondly, the new educational system focused on self-development more than on basic skills, which is contrary to the Amish belief of self-denial. Lastly, the Amish found that education until the 8^th grade was sufficient to equip their children for a useful life within the community.

Because of these reasons, most Amish refused to send their children to public schools. Some Amish men had to pay for taking this stand by going to prison. However, as time passed, public opinion changed in favor of the Amish. Some English lawyers defended the Amish. The National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom (NCARF) was formed, including lawyers, academics, and Christian and Jewish religious leaders. This is somewhat remarkable because the Amish held a belief that they were not to not go to court to defend themselves. In the end, the case “Wisconsin v. Yoder, et al” was at the Supreme Court in 1972. The court decided that, because of freedom of religion, the Amish could organize their own schools with a two specifications: lessons were to be taught in English, and the state could check on the quality of their education. The Amish were free to decide to what degree they wanted to include science in their program, as long as the basics (reading, writing, arithmetic, and American History) were up to standards. In some states, a vocational school was required to meet the state’s standard of education until the age of sixteen.

The Amish started to purchase old one room school houses and place parochial schools in them. Currently, most Amish children receive their education in these type of schools. There is still a minority of Amish school children (for example, in Holmes County, Ohio) who attend public school. Often, they have separate classes with only Amish children and an adjusted program. Some parents, however, do approve computer lessons for their children so they will learn how to use computers for business purposes. The Amish children who do attend public schools are usually from the less conservative groups.

Due to the shift in occupation and the change in education, the interaction with the outside world is now, in most cases, exactly opposite from what it used to be. In years gone by, Amish children would interact with English children in school, but after school they would be involved with their own community, as most Amish were farmers. It is currently the other way around in many communities. The Amish children connect among themselves in their parochial schools, but in their work life, they have English co-workers.

Main source: A History of the Amish, by Steven M. Nolt

 

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