Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 11120167
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED018328 AUTHOR: BUCHANAN, FREDERICK S.
TITLE: RELATIONSHIP OF THE AMISH TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN
OHIO. FINAL REPORT.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1967
NOTE: 21P.
ABSTRACT: A DOCTORAL STUDY WAS MADE IN AN ATTEMPT TO (1)
DESCRIBE THE NATURE OF THE THREAT POSED TO THE OHIO AMISH
BY THE PROGRAM OF STATE CONTROLLED PUBLIC SCHOOLING, (2)
REVIEW THE PRINCIPLE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OPEN
CONFLICT BETWEEN THE AMISH AND THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES, AND
(3) ANALYZE THE AMISH RESPONSE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLING. THE
FIRST PHASE OF THE STUDY WAS AN HISTORICAL RESEARCH INTO
AMISH CONFLICT WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLING, AND THE SECOND PHASE
INVOLVED DATA COLLECTION THROUGH A 60-ITEM INTERVIEW
SCHEDULE. THE ROOT OF AMISH RESISTANCE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLING
IS THEIR BELIEF THAT AS A COMMUNITY OF CHRISTIANS, THEY
SHOULD MAINTAIN A BOUNDARY BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE
SECULAR WORLD. THEY FEAR THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLING WILL
DISSOLVE THIS BOUNDARY AND ULTIMATELY DESTROY THE AMISH
COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT OF PRESSURE, THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED
THEIR OWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS USING UNCERTIFIED AMISH
TEACHERS. THE AMISH VIEW PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN "BOOK LEARNING," AND THEIR SCHOOLS TEACH
ONLY THE BASIC SKILLS THROUGH THE EIGHTH GRADE. THE AUTHOR
CONCLUDES THAT SINCE DIVERSITY OF EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND
METHODS IS AN ESSENTIAL FACET OF CULTURAL PLURALISM, AND IN
ORDER TO PREVENT THE DISRUPTIVE DISINTEGRATION OF THE AMISH
VALUE SYSTEM, THE AMISH SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REAR THEIR
CHILDREN IN CONFORMITY WITH THEIR TRADITIONAL PATTERN OF
LIFE. (SF)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Cultural-Differences; Cultural-Education;
Educational-Discrimination; Educational-Problems; Public
Education; Religious-Conflict; Religious-Differences;
Religious-Education
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Cultural-Pluralism; *Educational-Change;
*Elementary-Education; *Religious-Cultural-Groups;
*Religious-Discrimination
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