School Days

Posted on August 31st, 2009 by Melissa

School is in session in many parts of the country and the rest will be soon following suit. For the average rural American elementary school student, the start of the school year ushers in the inevitable ride to school on a canary yellow school bus. Part of the fun is to fall into the routine of watching for the bus to turn onto your road and to jostle for a prime seat-usually near the back of the bus furthest away from the driver.

For the average Amish school aged child, there is no ride to the nearest city school. Rather, they walk to the nearest one-room school room with their siblings and neighboring Amish children where all the children are taught by one teacher, barely past high school age herself. The school day begins early for the Amish student. Early morning wake-up is followed by a quick scurry into work clothes. Boys rush out with their fathers to complete barn or yard chores, while girls help their mothers prepare breakfast, care for any babies and toddlers in the family, pack school and work lunches, and tidy up bedrooms.

The morning highlight is a hearty breakfast after morning chores are completed. Just like mothers’ around the world, the Amish mother wants her family well nourished and energized to face the day ahead. Most likely the family will take time for devotions and prayers, fortifying the soul as well as the body.

Here’s a recipe for quick and easy Amish Sourdough Pancakes.

2 c. buttermilk pancake mix
1 ½ c. water
1 c. Amish Friendship Bread starter

Mix pancake mix, water, and starter in a large bowl. Beat until well combined. Add one tablespoon cooking oil to a heavy frying pan and heat over medium high heat. Use a 1/3 cup measure to pour pancake batter into hot frying pan. Fry until brown on both sides. Serve while hot with your choice of syrups.

The Amish school emphasizes the values of obedience, tradition, and humility. Children cooperative in learning their lessons and the teacher instills Amish values through morning devotional exercises such as scripture reading, repeating prayers, and singing. The subjects are the timeless subjects taught to most students-spelling, reading, mathematics, history, geography, and English. They are also taught German.

The goal of the Amish school experience is to train students not to be scholars, but rather to prepare them for apprenticeships in farming, manual trades, crafts or business.

But its not all serious work at the school. Students are given recess breaks to run off excess energy. Games aren’t organized but rather students learn to use their imaginations, cooperate playing team sports, or to organize games on their own. Lunch time is also a cooperative affair, with washing up, heating up warm foods on the school’s stove, and clean-up after the meal.

Here’s great Amish tuna fish sandwich recipe that might go into an Amish student’s lunch pail.

1 eight ounce package of softened cream cheese
½ c mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 can tuna
½ c. finely chopped rip olives
Drain water from tuna. Place cream cheese, mayonnaise, and lemon juice into a bowl and mix well. Add drained tuna and olives and combine well. Cover and refrigerate overnight for flavors to meld. Butter slices of dark bread (whole grain or rye are good choices) and spread layer of tuna mix over one piece. Top with another piece. Salt and pepper to taste.

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