RELATIONSHIP OF THE AMISH TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OHIO. FINAL REPORT

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)