Meet the Hutterites: Does religious freedom include denying children an education?

By Mechele R. Dillard G+ 2012-06-06 16:29

Is forcing children to remain uneducated - so they will hopefully be unable to leave King Colony - an act of religious freedom or an outright denial of these kids' rights as Americans?

“The choice between your child getting an education or your being able to go to church is no choice at all.”

So said Wesley on Meet the Hutterites.

Rita and Bertha Hofer are members of the King Colony of Hutterites, featured on the National Geographic Channel show, Meet the Hutterites. Their sons, Anthony and Carver, respectively, were going to high school—an action frowned upon by the elders of the colony. The colony does have a school on the property, but on this point they were very clear: It goes only to the level of 8th grade. Grades beyond this are not thought necessary for life on the Hutterite colony and, therefore, not provided. If children are to go to high school, they must do so in the so-called "English" world, i.e. outside of King Colony--an action not permitted by the colony, at least beyond the age of 15; playing sports is, it seems, absolutely forbidden. Having found out that Anthony and Carver were attending high school and playing sports, the elders, who apparently reside in a Hutterite colony in Canada, descended upon the Montana King Colony, and shunned the two women for allowing their sons to pursue an education.

Seriously?

Apparently so.

During the episode, another Hutterite parent, Ben, demanded that his teenage daughter, Tammy, stay home from school to attend to church work—cleaning the colony, apparently, is more important to Ben than his daughter getting a high school diploma. “You’re up in that age now. You gotta be with the women,” Ben demanded to his daughter. “Colony work, then school. … And that’s it.”

Is this what “freedom of religion” was meant to be?

Shunning is the worst punishment put upon Hutterites. Rita and Bertha were not allowed to interact with anyone; their jobs were taken away; they were not even permitted to eat with other members of the colony.

All for allowing their children to go to school.

The interesting twist is that Wesley, Rita’s older son, and Claudia, Bertha’s older daughter, both finished high school, apparently without incident. Wesley even got a college degree in Business Administration and Law via an online university program. So, that begs another question:

Now that King Colony is the subject of a reality television show, was the shunning situation for dramatic effect?

The colony members talking about education seem passionate about the kids not needing more than an 8th grade education, which is what they themselves have, at best. They shouldn’t be mixing with the world, they say; they should be living in the colony, working and freeing tractors from the mud, not concerning themselves with algebra and other things they may encounter in grades 9-12—worthless endeavors, they indicate--and taking the orders of the elders mindlessly, without question. Of course, in this way, they try to force the kids to have no other option but to stay in the colony, as they themselves were forced. Ben’s wife, Marie, told told their daughter, Tammy, who said she was beginning to want out of the Hutterite fish bowl, “As far as I’m concerned you will never leave the colony, Tammy.”

Wow.

Freedom of Religion or Denial of Rights?

Freedom of religion is a right that we all have as Americans, that is true. But, is this freedom of religion? Demanding that your children be uneducated so that they will be unable to function in the real world and, therefore, be forced to stay within the community—is that freedom of religion? Is that freedom, period?

“High school is hurting the colony, because they are taking away our kids,” one Hutterite mother, Sarah, said. “I believe that the kids should stick around and help with the colony because this is our life.”

What about the lives of the kids who want to get their education and decide for themselves if the Hutterite life is for them?

If this is all being done for television, these people, presumably not actors, have been very convincing in their belief that their children should not be educated. So, scarily, it may just be the real thing, television or not, and it is unbelievable that this is allowed to go on in America, that children can be denied an education simply because their parents—and church elders—want them to work on the community farm and hope that they will never have enough knowledge to leave and live independently.

Truly unbelievable.

Rita and Bertha were forgiven and unshunned by their church, but Carver and Anthony are still paying the price.

Is this the meaning religious freedom?

Is this freedom, period?

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Tammy's mom 'proud' that her daughter quit high school

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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Fake

They wanted the kids to go to school on the colony instead of in town. No one wanted them to stop going to school, no one is trying to take away their education, but that's the part they leave out so everyone will look at Hutterites as if they were evil.

Angry Anabaptists!

wow, it sounds like all the posters are angry anabaptists! They're so brainwashed by their bizarre German-Protestant cult they can't even understand why forcing children to remain uneducated past the eighth grade is wrong. All they care about is getting the farm work done and continuing the madness of their backwards and heretical cultlike practices through the generations. Only cults particpate in shunning, isolation, forced ignorance, etc. Oh, and they DID want them to stop going to school as the "colony school" only goes up to the EIGHTH grade. Forcing someone to drop out of school at 12-15 years of age so they can do farmwork they won't be paid for is wicked. I bet the "elders" have nicer houses, cars, etc than the rest as cult leaders always live better (materially speaking) than their followers who are forced to blindly obey everything they say. It can hardly be said that education is an article of faith considering the circumstances, it's merely about getting as much free labor as possible. When you can't even choose what life you want to live and have to constantly answer to the "higher ups" about even the most minor details in your life (dress, education, etc) then you are definately in a cult. Personally I have ZERO respect for anabaptism of any kind. They were wicked violent heretics who posed a serious threat to the social order from the beggining, and now they're allowed to continue to opress their own children in the name of "freedom of religion". Sickening. I hope and pray that all these poor deluded heretics will convert to the One, True, Catholic faith (which they have been brainwashed to hate and despise).

Excellent analysis!

An intelligent and educated response. Most Protestants do not know the details surrounding the heretics who founded their particular sects. As has been said for hundreds of years: "To immerse oneself in history is to cease to be a Protestant."

Truely?

Seriously? Leave your stupid prejudices away from here. They have to be entirely self-sufficient, due to their beliefs. And they do. But the only way they can do this is to have everyone working. And really, the hutterites are only going to succede in this world by staying on the colony. By living in a colony which everyone is somehow related for hundreds of years, their social skills have deteriorated. They are only able to succede by living in the same way. In a way, their beliefs have been realized. They can only live on the colony. Like monks, but western and more modern and with a different religion. But really, I can't stand religious intollerance. You have your beliefs, I don't. So what? What does it concern you? Does it affect your life? No. Seriously, I don't want your religious spew.

Oops.

Sorry, that was directed to the higher and longer comment above.

Religion and Education

I have never heard, read or seen Christian faith limiting people's reasonable education. It's just a different interpretation of religion if someone argues for it.

Just like anonymous has said

Just like anonymous has said nobody is trying to stop thier education.

Hutterite Education

I am a member of a conservative Russian Mennonite group in Southwest Kansas, while members of the Alt Kolonier (Old Colony) Mennonites don't send their kids past eighth grade, our group sends ours to high school and then to technical schools where welding, machine tool technology, diesel technology, sustainable agriculture, livestock sciences, crop sciences, automotive technology and nursing are the only things allowed. We don't believe in worldly things like art history, psychology, rhetoric, women's studies and other things of its ilk for members of our church. The Hutterites are doing similar to us about not exposing kids to worldly studies that won't provide jobs and a comfortable status of living. Hutterites are not the only ones who only educate to the 8th grade. Holdeman Mennonites, Old Order Amish, Old Order Mennonites, Reinlander Mennonites, some of my Kleinde Gemende group depending on district also do the same. It works for us! Our kids will be good hard-working individuals.

reply

Wow.... I'm so sorry you believe that work is all there is to life and that hard work is to be revered among all. There is sooooo much more out there. Try enjoying something for a change that is done strictly for pleasure, and balance out the work.

Without work, you have

Without work, you have nothing. Our people believe in hard labor, believing that it brings you closer to God. It humbles us and "Work makes life sweet". We don't require such things as fancy clothes, vacations in the Bahamas, the latest cell phone. We wish to work hard, so we can provide for our families and be able to help those who can't help themselves. Most modern people would rather live with having multiple days off and on those days, rush off to the greatest and latest tourist attraction instead of visiting the elderly, spending time at home with the family. I was once a modern "worldly" person and hated the sense of entitlement and idea that fun is more important than work. In my world, it's better to work and toil and stay close to the community. My husband and I are favored by employers because we work six days a week, 12-15 hr days....without complaining and without shirking. Work and church is our pleasure and our reward is when there's a widow who needs something, we provide or a disabled child, we help too. Worldly people forget about the widows after the funeral and figure that the disabled or elderly are your problem, not the church's or the community.

Without work, you have

Hutterite Education

I think that, given the lifestyle of the Hutterites, they follow the example of the Mennonites and allow some children to attend trade schools to learn trades useful to the Colony. There are some useful trades that may not be taught in the colony because no one knows how to do them.

Hard Working Individuals

While I agree there is much to gain by being a hard working individual I also must say that chances of these people ever gaining employment outside of their colony is minimal at best. The problem being lack of education and socialization. I can pick out a home schooled person from 10 miles away. I'm sorry but they simply lack the skills to fit into society. I believe this is why these "colonies" practice this is to assure they won't have a chance to leave when they realize this isn't living.

Kids not finishing high school

Go to Woodburn Oregon and look into the Russian Orthidox Church. kids of the church, namely girls never finish beyond 10th grade. Most kids are expected to help around the farm and forego School at high school level. Marriages happen at a young age within the church. The Hutterites are not a new delima. If you grow up in a big city, you think that this is something new.

I am not a Hutterite. I

I am not a Hutterite. I think the Hutterites are correct to be concerned about what their children will see and learn in public high schools. I sent my two children through public schools. They were exposed to cheating, drugs and premarital sex. But what I regret most is the public school’s encouragement and social pressure to adopt our “politically correct” aspirations to be “successful”, meaning primarily to be greedy. There was certainly no emphasis on “love thy brother as thyself”. The author of this article is clearly taking our societies politically correct stance that higher education is more important than family or religious values. I think the Hutterites deserve our respect. They have certainly done better than our troubled USA society.

proud

i am so proud and have to say THANKS to all who have commented on this artical, Which seems was writen by someone who obviously has no clue how different culture live... i am hutterite, and noone tries to keep education from us,noone can stop us from leaving, we have a free choice just like anyone. Our elders they only try to help and protect us, so we may someday be able to keep our culture alive,...

proud

People will never understand

People will never understand the reason why we choose to keep the heritage alive. As Kleinde Gemende Mennonite (not born into the faith, converted), I understand the reason why things are there for a reason and I feel like people are trying to force us (Hutterites and Mennonites) alike into worldly things that take us away from God and tradition. Rules are there for a reason and I am happier as Kleinde Gemende than I was in the 23 years prior to my conversion. I like my life and don't ask for much...just as the Hutterite Colonies do. If God grants me children, then they will be raised in the way of our faith and not encouraged to chase after worldly things.

I was raised in a small town,

I was raised in a small town, and taught that it was ok to live simple, always respect others and to love God. We grew up on my grandparents dairy farm where we watched them work hard and we worked hard as well. But no matter how hard they worked, or how tired they were, come sunday, we all were sitting in our pew at church listening to the word of God. I think these hutterites have a good thing going. And although they would consider me an english person, some of us that were raised simple have a lot in common with them. I think the closeness is nice and the way that they work together is amazing! My hat is off to the hutterites. I respect their way of life and admire the structure they are about.

The actual reality: my peers

The actual reality: my peers and I have all never stepped foot inside a public high school, & we all have a grade 12 education. Whats more, We weren't exposed 'worldly' ( as in, not christian) influences. Why? Because of a 'choice' our parents made, A choice to educate their children in earthly wisdom, & most important, to teach them about Christ.

Hutterite Girl

Fair enough; can you tell us, did you homeschool for the upper grades, or does your colony have a school through 12th grade on it? Really interested in learning more on this subject.

Yes, i went through all the

Yes, i went through all the grades at my colony's school. we use Abecca, a Christian curriculum fr pencecola christian academy. Many colony's use it, and many have a anababtist curriculum. Others have distant learning courses. Education has actually been very important to Hutterites since their start in Europe. When the rest of the common ppl couldn't read, they made sure all their children would b able to read the word of God for themselves. They have passed on their high regard for education. After all, 'my people perish for lack of knowledge' Hosea 4:6

Interesting

So, do you have an opinion on the way education has been portrayed on "Meet the Hutterites?" Last night, Tammy's mom said she was "proud" that her daughter made the decision to quit high school; does that not seem completely opposite of what you just described?

My opinion

My opinion, ( a fact, really) is that the parents at King colony have more than two choices concerning their childrens education.

The Hutterites are not the only ones.

I am not familiar with the Hutterites but as my family watched the show it seemed very familiar to us, we were members of a similar religion ourselvs. They frowned on the worldly people, ideas and even education. They (we) were asked to not be in plays, not do the musical and sports programs, actually keep to ourselves for fear we become "worldly". They are Jehovah's Witnesses, and they are just a good at portraying the outside as something that will stop the young ones from staying faithful. I did enjoy the show and the people in it, but it was very familiar in a uncomfortable way.

The Hutterite's are nothing

The Hutterite's are nothing like Jehovah witness they don't force, cajole or try to talk anybody into joining their church people have to use their own conscience that is why everybody has one.

Hutterites are not JW.

how can you compared them to the JW, i look at the Hutterites and i can see the familiarity between them and the Mennonites, Most mennonites i know attend high school, graduated with me, our valedictorian was a JW, who wasn't allowed to go to college, some even went to college, Hutterite Parents are not trying to forbid, they want to protect their kids from a world that's getting more and more corrupt in their own point of view. If you look at some communities, they are allowing some changes such as online distances learning on curriculums they won't cause conflict with their beliefs, some Hutterites families in Canada even allow telephones now, They live in a commune, they like the Amish are pacifists, they are conscientous objectors when it comes to war. The poster doesn't tell people that they're using Cell phones and Smart Phones, one of them even wanted to take her mom to a country music concert. They are changing but they're changing in ways that won't get in the way of their own beliefs, if they don't want to send their kids to high school, it could be because they will get bullied for being different. What guarantee can the writer say that the kids won't get teased or bullied for dressing or being different.

Dressed differently?

It is amazing, the number of excuses people are coming up with to defend what has been plainly stated on this show repeatedly: Members of King Ranch Colony, with a few exceptions, are against their children going to school beyond eighth grade because they may gain the knowledge and understanding to leave. If the kids' faith is strong enough, they will not leave simply because they have an education beyond the 8th grade. If the parents' faith is strong enough, they should understand this. Instead, you have a mother celebrating her daughter's decision to drop out of high school as if she just won the lottery.

In The World - But Out Of The World?

I love the show personally. The people are good people and their personalities are very colorful and a joy to watch. However, even though they are an authentic Hutterite colony, how "out of the world" of the English are they really........ since they are on TV? They are more exposed "to the world" than most of us. How many of us have been on a popular TV show? They have camera crews around doing scenes and takes; film crews; etc., and they are taking part in the process of TV and movie making. I would say that is actually MORE "of the world" than most of us will ever be. They have more Facebook friends and subscribers than 10,000 of us "regular folk" combined, and are experiencing a level of popularity that none of us will ever experience in our lives (they're famous). So I ask again; "How 'out of the world' are they really? Think about it.

I watched the show this

I watched the show this evening for the first time and was most alarmed at the "shunning" of those dear ladies that have worked so hard for the colony up until the shunning. How can another human being treat their fellow sisters like that ? It's an utter disgrace, that's not christian, and those elders that ordered the shunning are nothing more than trumped up egotistical pigs.They should be stripped of their title and position for such un christian behaviour. they are condemning those 2 boys who loved sport to a long hard dreary existence. If they have to force the young ones to stay, by such cruel behaviour towards them and their mothers, then it will eventually build resentment towards the leadership.Let the kids have their life, they don't deserve their lives to be held hostage like that by their cult leaders.

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Meet the Hutterites: Does religious freedom include denying children an education?

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