English for Amish Children in Iowa: Sociolinguistic Dimensions

Since 1965, Amish children in Buchanan County, Iowa have been exempted from state requirements to attend centralized schools and, instead, are taught in small rural schools with a traditional curriculum through grade 8. More recent federal laws mandate provision of special services to limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in this group. Some schools have refused English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) services, which currently include diagnostic testing, recommendations on materials adaptation and purchase, inservice teacher workshops, and consultation on planning for the future. Administrator attitudes have been positive to neutral. Teachers have generally been receptive to workshops and new ideas. Parents have expressed guarded approval, preferring minimal change. The new program design resembles sheltered English, with subjects taught in English. However, the goals of sheltered English and of the Amish differ. Sheltered English programs are intended to mainstream students, while the Amish community prefers separation. Development of a program model tailored to the goals and language functions deemed important in this and other unique communities, such as native American groups, could be useful. Some methods and content are considered inappropriate for the Amish, and challenge currently-accepted methodology. Inservice training must match teacher needs and goals, and testing must be adapted for the population. (MSE)