A Supreme Court decision in 1972 allowed the Amish to create their own school system, and therefore preserve their way of life. Amish children attend one-room schools without electricity, and are taught by Amish teachers from books published by the Amish. Descended from the Anabaptists of Zurich, Switzerland, who had branched off from the Protestant Reformation in the 16 th century, the Amish split from the Anabaptist Mennonite group to follow the views of Jacob Ammann. The Amish beliefs include a strict obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the function of church members as accountable to one another and separate from the world, and an ethic of love that rejects violence in all spheres of human interaction. For Amish children, these beliefs are an immediate influence on their lives.
Children begin attending worship at six weeks of age.
Attending services helps children develop patience, obedience, humility, and a sense of unity. Jean Druesedow, author, lecturer and scholar of costume history, has served as the director of the Kent State University Museum since 1993. She curated for the Metropolitan Museum of Art s Costume Institute from 1978 to 1984, and has held faculty positions at numerous schools across the country, including New York University and Miami University in Oxford. Media sponsors include Columbus Alive, Small Business News, and Time Warner Communications. The Riffe Gallery, operated by the Ohio Arts Council, showcases the work of Ohio s artists and curators and the collections of the state s museums and galleries.