Amish Education in the United States and Canada

Mark Dewalt takes readers inside Amish schools to help them understand how students learn and teachers teach, guiding them to discover why education is so important to the survival of the Amish way of life. Throughout this process, readers learn about the strengths and weaknesses of Amish education and much about Amish history. The lessons gleaned by readers will lead them to important insights into some of the problems facing American public schools today. -- Bill Sherman, Country School Historian, Des Moines, Iowa and editor of Iowa?s Country Schools: Landmarks of Learning Mark Dewalt, utilizing his keen eyes and ears, has thoroughly portrayed a unique network of schools, individual to their communities, yet significantly similar with common ideals and heritage. Here is an encompassing and expansive view of North America Amish education that not once neglects the intimate, individual student and teacher educational experience. -- Dr. Bonnie Troxell, curriculum coordinator, Central Columbia School District, Bloomsburg, PA Amish Education in the United States and Canada offers a comprehensive account of Amish schools. Intricately woven throughout are illustrations of the values that stand strong as the foundation of Amish schools and lives. The emphasis the Amish place on effort, patience and collaboration should be seen as benchmarks for all contemporary schoolingggg -- Dr. Bette Heins, professor of education, Stetson University, DeLand, FL Mark W. Dewalt offers readers an exceptionally rich and unsentimental portrait of Amish education in North America. He shows us that the Amish have a remarkable and serious sense of education and his story presents us the occasion to reflect upon the problematic large-scale systems of schooling we have created. -- Stephen A. Swidler, associate professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; author of Naturally Small: Teaching and Learning in the Last One Teacher Sc The book... addresses every aspect of Amish education including the organization of schools, curriculum, textbooks, teaching styles, teacher preparation and special education. Dewalt also provides readers with detailed descriptions of classroom activities in different schools throughout the United States and Canada. Much of the insightful information the author shares comes from his observations of schools and interviews with teachers, school board members and bishops during visits to many Amish communities... Reading Eagle As thought-provoking as it is easy-to-read, this fascinating book provides insights into a culture that too often remains invisible in mainstream American education. -- Dr. Carol P. McNulty, assistant professor of education, University of North Carolina-Wilimington, Wilmington, NC Amish Education in the United States and Canada offers a comprehensive account of Amish schools. Intricately woven throughout are illustrations of the values that stand strong as the foundation of Amish schools and lives. The emphasis the Amish place on effort, patience and collaboration should be seen as benchmarks for all contemporary schooling -- Dr. Bette Heins, professor of education, Stetson University, DeLand, FL Dewalt provides an ethnographic description of Amish educational practices across the United States and Canada. This text is largely based upon field research he conducted in 2005 as well as a review of primary historical documents. Reference and Research Book News Informative, orderly, and respectful in its delivery, Amish Education in the United States and Canada is a testament to Dewalt's thorough research and countless hours of observation. Contemporary educators reading this book could not help but yearn wistfully for the personal responsibility, focus, and classroom decorum displayed by Amish students. Here is a rare look at a society that steadfastly values and supports the role of schools and teachers. Dewalt presents his study of a system seemingly lost in time, but highly successful in reaching its community's educational goals. -- Susan C. Fineman M.Ed., former teacher and administrator, Lowell Public Schools, Massachusetts This book provides an insightful look at Amish educational practices, detailing those practices in a sampling of communities throughout the United States and Canada. Mark Dewalt captures the essence of the schools through his explanation of the daily activities, giving a clear sense of the people and their routines in the classroom. An important historical description links the development of Amish schools with the development of the public school system in the U.S. Amish Education in the United States and Canada gives the reader the necessary context for understanding the structure and content of Amish schools. -- Dr. Mary E. Outlaw, director of field experiences and student teaching, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA If you would like a practical and informative account of the history and current practices of Amish one-room schools, this book is a valuable and definitive resource. Country School Association Of America E-Newsletter Dewalt has done extensive research, and the data he presents is impressive. The Annals Of Iowa, Summer 2008