The lives of the Amish in the US | DW Documentary
DW Documentary・26 minutes read
The Amish community lives a traditional lifestyle devoid of modern technology, prioritizing faith, family, and community values. Despite minimal formal education, Amish individuals can succeed in business and trades, with a strong emphasis on traditional skills and craftsmanship.
Insights
- The Amish community adheres to a centuries-old way of life, emphasizing traditional values, skilled craftsmanship, and a rejection of modern technology, showcasing a commitment to simplicity and self-reliance.
- Despite minimal formal education and reliance on traditional skills, the Amish community thrives economically through businesses led by individuals like Chester Curts, highlighting the importance of strong work ethics, community support, and a focus on practical trades over formal education.
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Recent questions
How do the Amish live?
Simply put, the Amish community lives a lifestyle reminiscent of 300 years ago, following strict rules called odnom. They prioritize faith, family, and community values, avoiding modern technology like cars, television, and computers. Instead, they rely on horses for transportation and work, emphasizing traditional skills and trades. Education ends at age 14 unless pursuing specific trades, and children help with farm chores before and after school. The Amish prioritize church and family over business, valuing traditional craftsmanship and nature.
What is the Amish education system like?
The Amish education system is unique, with children attending private schools where the Bible is a primary focus. Education typically ends at age 14 unless they choose to pursue specific trades. Amish teachers have minimal formal education, starting as teaching assistants and attending private courses to exchange experiences. After school, children have chores at home, with a focus on traditional skills and trades rather than modern technology.
How do Amish families handle finances?
Amish families have a distinct approach to finances. Teenagers share earnings with parents until age 20, paying rent if living at home. The community lacks health insurance, relying on private payments for medical expenses. Benefit auctions are common to raise funds for medical needs, with the Amish fund covering hospital treatments. Despite limited formal education, Amish businessmen like Chester can succeed, overseeing projects and employing young workers like Wayne.
What values do the Amish prioritize?
The Amish community places a high value on faith, family, and community. They live self-sustainably, using solar power and modern appliances while avoiding modern technology like cars and computers. Traditional skills and trades are emphasized, with a focus on nature, horses, and skilled craftsmanship. Amish families prioritize church and family over business, valuing self-reliance and traditional beliefs.
How do the Amish community govern themselves?
The Amish community lacks a central governing body, with Bishops leading individual Church districts. Volunteer Ministers like Tom play a role in the community, owning businesses that focus on handmade quality. Despite technological differences, interactions with non-Amish individuals like Chester, a construction manager, are positive, appreciating the Amish way of life and work ethic. The community values traditional skills, trades, and a lifestyle centered around faith, family, and community.
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Summary
00:00
"Traditional Amish Life: Family, Faith, Work"
- The Amish community lives similarly to 300 years ago, following strict rules called odnom, including adult baptism and rejecting modern technology.
- Enos Sall, an old order Amish farmer and blacksmith, lives on a 94-acre farm with his wife and seven children, avoiding technology as much as possible.
- The old order Amish rely on horses for transportation and work, with Enos owning 21 horses that he loans out for farm work and transport.
- Enos's children, Marcus and Myon, help with farm chores before school, following a lifestyle devoid of cars, television, or computers.
- Amish children attend private schools where the Bible is a primary focus, with education ending at age 14 unless they pursue specific trades.
- Amish teachers undergo minimal formal education, starting as teaching assistants and attending private courses to exchange experiences.
- After school, children have chores at home, with 12-year-old Raymond Slayball helping out on the farm without traditional homework.
- The Amish community values traditional skills and trades, with a focus on nature, horses, and the practice of skilled craftsmanship.
- Amish families prioritize church and family over business, with limited modern adaptations like telephones for business purposes.
- Chester Curts, a non-Amish construction manager, interacts with the Amish community, appreciating their way of life and work ethic despite technological differences.
21:51
Amish Community: Faith, Family, and Self-Reliance
- Amish businessmen can succeed with minimal education, like Chester overseeing projects in Middlefield.
- Wayne, a 14-year-old, works for Chester, earning $15 per hour, which can increase with experience.
- Amish teenagers share earnings with parents until 20, paying rent if living at home.
- Amish community lacks health insurance, relying on private payments for medical expenses.
- Benefit auctions, like the one attended by Chester and John, raise funds for medical needs.
- Amish fund covers hospital treatments, with auctions often exceeding fundraising goals.
- Amish lack a central governing body, with Bishops leading individual Church districts.
- Tom, a volunteer Minister, owns an antique store and bakery, focusing on handmade quality.
- Amish families, like Lloyd and Edna Miller, live self-sustainably, using solar power and modern appliances.
- Amish lifestyle emphasizes faith, family, and community values, with a focus on self-reliance and traditional beliefs.
