School Days While Growing Up

Warm greetings from our Amish community here in the Heartland as we move deeper into the gentle days of early Summer. The week brought our share of rain that softened the fields and kept many gardens too wet to tend, so porch sitting became a familiar sight along the gravel roads. Neighbors waved from covered porches as buggies passed by, and the sound of rain on metal roofs created a peaceful backdrop to the slower pace the weather encouraged. There is something comforting about watching the world move along in the rain, especially when the fields and trees look so refreshed afterward.

Since many outdoor chores were paused, this quieter week brought more time for reflection, and it led several families to share memories from their school days. We have written about Amish education before, but this time the stories turned toward the small details that shaped daily life in the one room schoolhouses scattered across the countryside. These were the moments that rarely make it into formal descriptions of Amish schooling, yet they linger in memory long after the last day of eighth grade.

One woman remembered how the schoolhouse smelled on a cool morning once the woodstove had been lit. The scent of woodsmoke mixed with the faint smell of chalk dust created a sense of comfort that signaled the start of another steady school day. She said that history was always her favorite subject because it fed her love of reading. Math in the upper grades was more challenging, but she still recalls how her teacher made learning feel personal simply by answering questions with patience.

Recess brought its own kind of joy. If the weather was favorable, softball was the game of choice, and the older students often helped the younger ones learn how to swing or catch. Those same older students also helped with flashcards in the basement of the schoolhouse. The basement was chosen because flashcard sessions could get noisy, and the younger children always looked forward to the attention from the older grades. In return, many students remember the first time they were trusted to help a younger child with those same flashcards, feeling proud to be seen as responsible.

Writing neatly was learned by example. Students watched the careful strokes of their teacher’s handwriting and tried their best to earn an A on their own papers. Lunchtime was simple and pleasant. On nice days the children carried their lunches outside to eat in the fresh air. The last day of school always brought a picnic lunch, a tradition everyone looked forward to as a celebration of another year completed.

There were moments of humor too. One teacher had a habit of saying, “See who can hear the pin drop,” whenever the room grew too noisy. She would drop a pin behind her desk, and the entire room fell silent as the children strained to hear it. Many still smile when they remember that trick.

The most memorable school day for one Amish woman was her very first. She recalled learning the letter A and feeling as if a whole new world had opened. The last day of eighth grade brought a different feeling. Many describe it as a bittersweet moment, knowing they were leaving behind what they often call the best years of their life. Children today might be surprised by how similar each school day was, yet that sameness created a sense of steadiness that shaped their childhood.

Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers

Here are a few of the most notable moments from the families who weave the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com, shared with us this week.

The Mast Family

Spring into Summer is often the time when new life arrives on many Amish farms, and the Mast family had quite a surprise this week. Their dog had been restless for a day, scratching at the woodshed door and circling the doghouse as if searching for the right place to settle. By morning, four healthy pups were tucked beside her, warm and nursing. A little later, their nine year old daughter heard a faint cry from the woodshed and found a tiny pup that must have arrived first before the doghouse was chosen. Cold and hungry, it was quickly carried to the doghouse and welcomed into the pile of siblings. They named the little one Lucky, grateful she was found in time and already thriving with the rest of the litter.

The Swarey Family

The Swarey family has been adjusting to the newly paved road in front of their home, and their horse has been just as curious about the change. He slows each time he approaches the fresh black pavement, stepping carefully as if unsure of the new surface. They expect he will grow comfortable with it soon. Less than two weeks after the paving was finished, the family heard the sharp sound of a collision outside. An eighteen year old driver had accidentally struck the back of a local Amish driver for hire’s minivan as she slowed to turn into a nearby lane. The Swareys hurried out to offer help, and a sheriff’s deputy soon arrived. Thankfully no one was hurt, and the damage to both vehicles was minor, but it was a reminder of how quickly things can happen on a quiet country road.

"Seek to be worth knowing rather than be well known."

- Amish Wisdom Overheard in the Community