We visited an Amish one-room school yesterday. There were 30 children from grades 1-8 and two teachers. It was overcast outside and rather dark inside the room with light coming from only two incandescent bare-bulbed lamps. The children sat in rows of desks like ones I remember from my early childhood--inkwells and all. The decorations were achievement charts. There was a large water canister in the back of the room and two rows of plastic cups hanging from nails. The children sang for us and told us their names. Children of the more conservative Amish speak only German until about 3rd grade. Of the 30 children, at least 24 were Millers. We learned that there are 95 Amish schools in this one county of Holmes. There were no Amish schools here before the 1950s. The children attended public schools. But when the curriculum became more "worldly", they started their own schools. Children attend school only through 8th grade, as a rule. However, different sects have different rules. Some are very conservative and others very progressive.
We visited an Amish casketmaker whose son is at Ohio State and will study to become a doctor. He lost a son in an auto accident. We've learned that the Amish allow their children to "sow their oats" once they turn 16 and pray they'll return to the fold and choose the Amish way of life. Abe Yoder, the casketmaker, says he charges $525 for a wooden casket, a wooden vault, and the delivery to the undertaker. He can't be making much to supplement his income from farming.
We visited the Warthers Museum (http://www.warthers.com/). Moonie Warthers was one of America's most talented carvers. He carved mostly trains using ebony, mahogany, and ivory (when it was still legal). His trains are incredibly detailed right down to steam pipe valves that actually move. His carving of Lincoln's funeral train is unbelievable in detail. He started making his own carving knives and that led to a thriving knife manufacturing business that is now operated by the 4th generation of his family.
The food we've had so far is pretty bad. The Swiss/German/Amish eat a diet rich in carbohydrates---corn, potatoes and bread mostly. Cabbage is found in some fashion at every meal. Cabbage soup, cabbage rolls, sauerkraut (sp?), and some unrecognizable things.
Sorry for the few pics today. We're respecting the Amish wishes that they not be photographed (and there are Amish everywhere!)
Sorry for the long post. This is my way of keeping a journal of our travels.
Until later......
We visited an Amish casketmaker whose son is at Ohio State and will study to become a doctor. He lost a son in an auto accident. We've learned that the Amish allow their children to "sow their oats" once they turn 16 and pray they'll return to the fold and choose the Amish way of life. Abe Yoder, the casketmaker, says he charges $525 for a wooden casket, a wooden vault, and the delivery to the undertaker. He can't be making much to supplement his income from farming.
We visited the Warthers Museum (http://www.warthers.com/). Moonie Warthers was one of America's most talented carvers. He carved mostly trains using ebony, mahogany, and ivory (when it was still legal). His trains are incredibly detailed right down to steam pipe valves that actually move. His carving of Lincoln's funeral train is unbelievable in detail. He started making his own carving knives and that led to a thriving knife manufacturing business that is now operated by the 4th generation of his family.
The food we've had so far is pretty bad. The Swiss/German/Amish eat a diet rich in carbohydrates---corn, potatoes and bread mostly. Cabbage is found in some fashion at every meal. Cabbage soup, cabbage rolls, sauerkraut (sp?), and some unrecognizable things.
Sorry for the few pics today. We're respecting the Amish wishes that they not be photographed (and there are Amish everywhere!)
Sorry for the long post. This is my way of keeping a journal of our travels.
Until later......
