I don't know if I can answer all the questions you asked about the school in one post, but I will start. It takes Susan and the other children abour 20 minutes to get to school from Martha and Joseph's house. They go in a carriage and stop along the way to pick up some of the other children that go to school. It is too far to walk. Some of the other children live right down the road or near the school and they can walk.
Our teachers do not have a college education to teach. If a young lady would like to be a teacher in a school, she starts as a teachers's assistant when she is about 16. She also goes to teacher meetings with the current Old Order Mennonite teachers that they have three or four times a year. When a teacher position is open, then the assistant teacher can apply likes ours did when our teacher retired. So our previous assistant teacher is now our teacher. A teacher's assistant can not become a teacher until she is at least 18 years old.
Yes, Old Order Mennonite conserve and reuse as much as we can like we did in the construction of the new school. If it can be fixed up or refinished and use, why waste the money to replace it? On the other hand if it is dangerous, we would not keep it to injure someone especially one of the students. Of course in books, teaching supplies, have to be kept up with the State of New York so old ones are replaced as needed.
In most of the subjects the students have to follow state regulation as far as what is taught and they do have to take certain exams that are given by the State. Our grades one through eight must match that of the state of New York's same grades. They are both the same grade level although when tests are given it seems that Old Order Mennonite and Amish students get higher marks than many of the public schools students of the same grade do. We believe it is do being in a one room school each student get special help or put up a grade in one subject. Like Susan reads in fourth grade level even though she is in second grade-so the teacher has her reading on a fourth grade level while the rest of her subjects are on second grade level. Also if a child has problems with a subject like say math (as the high schools call it), they may be on a lower grade while the rest of their subjects are in their regular grade. Also teacher, teacher's assistant and older students will give special help to a student that needs it to bring them up to the levvel they should be. I don't think special help or time are given to students in the public schools like is given in ours.
I believe I answered this, but will again, Old Order Mennonite 8th grade education has to be at least as high as the State of New York's. We believe ours is a little higher than the states, but our grade level does not go to high school level. We feel that education after the 8th grade level is not needed for our way of lives.
There are still more questions and I will continue to answer these questions in a coming post.
Be With God,
Jean
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE COURT RESULT WAS REGARDING THOSE TWO AMISH THAT KILLED THOSE PUPPIES? I HAVE TRIED THE NEWSPAPER AND THE TV STATION WITH NO RESULTS. IF YOU KNOW PLEASE CONTACT ME AT:
Marilyn
20 comments:
When I grew up in Germany in the 60's and 70's,there were 3 levels of school:Volksschule at 8th grade,Middle School at 10th grade and Hochschule in the 12th grade.Wtith an 8th grade finish you could go into an apprentice type situation,such as plumber,baker,hairdresser...with middle school you could become a nurse,business apprentice,etc and with Hoch schule you can become a doctor,lawyer,architect.Not every child is made for the highest degree,so there are options for everyone!
Good Morning Gerritje H,
I think that level program was great in Germany. Not everyone is doctor, lawyer, nurse, or business material. Not everyone was great in high school- I wasn't. Those levels were a great idea. Thank you for telling us.
Marilyn
Good Morning Marilyn and Pierre!
First of all thank you for your prayers for Mabel. I will talk with the doctor again today. I hope she comes around completely.
I was wondering if you would ask Jean if the children do learn geometry and some algebra? I was surprised years ago when our three were learning this in grade school. When I went to school, we did not learn those kind of things until high school.
Good Morning Vickie and Mabel,
Please let me know how Mabel makes out at the doctors. I hope she comes around completely, too.
I will ask Jean. I remember when we learned geometry and algebra in high school, too.
Marilyn and Pierre
Folks, if we don't get more comments, Jean is not going to be happy. She feels if she doesn't get comments people don't care. So please leave a comment.
Marilyn
Dear Jean, I look forward to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays because I know I can check in here and find another interesting article from you or Martha. Thanks so much for writing, please keep on. I live about an hour from Arthur and Arcola, IL, which are Amish communities. My favorite 'farmer's market' in the summer where I live is run by a family...I'm not sure if they are Amish or Mennonite tho, good friends.
Thank you Shelia. I will tell Jean. I know she will appreciate them. I enjoy the farmers markets in our area, too.
Marilyn
Thank you for posting this Jean. It's really interesting to hear about the Old Order Mennonite schools. I think the children would be more advanced than those that go to public schools because of more personal attention. I know that most of our children who are home schooled also learn more than those in public schools. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. ~Doreen
Hello Doreen,
I am glad that some schools have the personal attention for children-I wish the public school's did. Thank you for commenting.
Marilyn
Thank you for your post Jean
Over here our public schools do have help for children who need more assistance with their school work- things have improved greatly compared to the past-
Fionalina
Forgot to mention I like the photo of the school with the snow
Fionalina
Hello Fionalina,
Public schools here, do have some help for children, but I don't think as much as like the Old Order Mennonite do. Glad you liked the picture, I was taking pictures of winter scenes and decided to take one of the school.
Marilyn
Marilyn, I rarely post comments because they don't always appear on Blogger. I'm not sure why, but since I do not belong to Blogger, I wonder if they delete the comments? I have noticed that on other blogs too, not only on yours. At any rate, I truly enjoy reading Jean's columns and hope she knows how much we appreciate her taking time out of her busy schedule to do so!
Hi Diann,
It could be that. I wonder sometimes because I have tried to leave comments on others blogs and I can't get on or they don't appear. I know some read them before they allow them on. I have deleted some spam off of here. Thank you for telling,
Marilyn
Hello Jean and Marilyn. I really felt it necessary to comment today as I would not want Jean to assume we are not thankful for all she does with the blog. So much has been going on in our life and we have been so busy taking care of unhealthy parents I have only been reading and not commenting. So sorry for that. I am so greatful we are able to help our parents. It saddens me when I know others children who do not bother with their parents. I would not trade it for any money in the world. It was nice to read about the Mennonite school so different from our school system. I know many people who home school also and there children are very gifted both in school subjects and the Bible also. Well I want to end by saying that my own personal life has been so blessed to know you Jean and Marilyn and I am so greatful for you both. God Bless Veronica
Thank you, Veronica, I will tell Jean what you said. I know you have a job taking care of your parents. It is sad that some children don't. I know some can't, but some just plain don't. I am glad you take care of your parents.
God Bless You and Yours,
Marilyn
I was wondering what curriculum is used in the schools? Do they use Rod and Staff or Christian Light or something else?
I enjoy Jean's posts and hope she continues.
Hi daybreaking,
Have written the questions for Jean and I am sure she will answer it in one of ther posts. I will give her your compliments.
Thank you,
Marilyn
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