You will discuss your thoughts on the video Devil’s Playground, and explore different aspects of these young people’s moral development,including their moral identity. Please do the following in your paper:
1. Explore Your feelings regarding Rumspringa
2. Explore your feelings about Amish teens being asked to make the choice between joining the Amish church or living outside of thechurch and being ostracized by the Amish community
3. Create educational implications for students who might be facing similar moral decisions by their families and communities. Pleaseprovide examples to illustrate your thinking.
Submit a paper which is 1-2 pages in length, exclusive of the reference page, double-spaced using 12 point Times New Roman Font. Thepaper must cite at least 2 outside sources in APA format and be well-written. Check all content for grammar, spelling and to be sure that youhave properly cited all resources (in APA format) used.
Unit 7
University of the People
EDUC 5420 - Adolescent Development
Dr. Jennifer Holmes
December 28, 2022
1. Explore Your feelings regarding Rumspringa
There is a big difference between a teenager from a secular society and a
teenager from a religious community when they encounter alcohol, sex, drugs,
and the carefree exuberance of their peers. For the latter, the "freedom" of
rumspringa most often results in feelings of fear, anxiety, disorientation, and
guilt, simply because of its stark contrast to their former lives.
So what are the basic qualities nurtured and avoided by the Amish? Their basic
principle is the rejection of pride, of exuberance, and of anything that breeds
pride. Humility and simplicity are the foundation of Amish rules and morals.
And these principles are embodied in all human life, beginning in early
childhood. It is quite evident in the simplicity of dress. All children dress almost
identically, and live identically - there is no envy. We can conventionally call it
a "school uniform", which is worn all the time. Obedience is important to the
children, which is quite understandable based on Amish traditions and the
structure of society. Simplicity and modesty are inculcated in childhood and
remain for life. Moreover, the children run around barefoot all summer. This is
not a part of their upbringing, but it says a lot (S.H. 2017, April 6).
At puberty, when the Amish have finished their studies and start working,
a wonderful period in their lives begins, formalized as the custom of
"Rumspringa". "Rumspringa" (from the word "run") is the term for the period
preceding the moment of choice, the moment of decision to stay or leave the
community. The period lasts several years, from 16-17 to 20-21, and all rules
are removed or relaxed during this period (Amish History & Beliefs, no dates).
But all of this is only allowed for young men and women outside of the
community. They can drive a car, wear normal (for the rest of the world)
clothes, smoke, use a cell phone, go to discos, etc. Some claim that they can
even - have sex and use drugs, but there are doubts about that. The institution of
Rumspringa is the most interesting thing about Amish culture. It helps to
preserve society, and through the free personal choice of each individual. A
young person can compare two worlds and decide which one he will live in.
Thus, the period of childhood and the short period of Rumspringa is followed
by adulthood itself, family life (The traditional Amish youth period of
Rumspringa, no dates).
2. Explore your feelings about Amish teens being asked to make the choice between joining the Amish church or living outside of the church and being ostracized by the Amish community
In the age of the Internet, cars, and all kinds of technology, it is hard to imagine
that there are those who do not use it in their lives. But there are indeed such
people the Amish. They live by the old ways, drive horse-drawn carts, do not
watch television, do not take pictures or videos of themselves, and do not use
electricity or equipment that depends on it. For about three hundred years there
has been such a religious movement as the Amish. Supporters of the movement
strictly keep their customs and rules. Their way of life is deeply traditional. The
Amish got their name from Jacob Ammann, a zealous follower of Mennonite
doctrine. Ammann originally argued that German and Dutch Mennonites, aka
pacifist Anabaptists, should totally avoid contact with the outside world and
those who broke the rules of the community (The traditional Amish youth
period of Rumspringa, no dates)
The author's attitude toward this society and its rules is ambiguous. On the
one hand, the norms, rules, values, and general understanding of life that were
instilled in them are unlikely to change dramatically during the five years of
adolescence, and on the other hand, during this period a person can find himself
in a very traumatic situation that will affect the rest of his life. Still, the period
of self-determination against the background of learning about the world outside
the community is the most important, the most sobering, and full of some
fascination. This is the period when the community grants formal permission to
leave before making serious choices. And therein lies the trick. In five years, the
teenager realizes that in the outside world he, too, will need those who will help
and support him, who will replace his community, his friends and parents, who
will be a support. It is unlikely that a young person without a decent education
and understanding of how the world outside the community works will be able
to adapt quickly, make friends, decide on a profession, and leave his/her past
behind, never to return.
3. Create educational implications for students who might be facing similar moral decisions by their families and communities. Please provide examples to illustrate your thinking.
In the Amish value system, education in the outside world plays no special role,
since the teenager will either go back and continue the tradition of the
community, or he will leave it and take his knowledge and experience with him.
From a financial and practical point of view, educating an Amish teenager in an
institution of higher learning that is oriented toward the outside world
vocational market makes no sense. Therefore, we do not just get a difficult
situation, we get a person who not only takes on moral obligations, not only
goes through a period of separation from his family because of his choices, but
also becomes solely responsible for his own material well-being. Accordingly,
learning will be sidelined, and achievement will definitely fall. And in this
period, the teacher can become the very support, the key to the door to the adult
world, when his advice and feasible help will give support. However, this
situation can happen to a young person for a variety of reasons.
If we consider the model of adolescent Amishayemi acceptance into the
community separately from the religious community, then in another family it
could be a situation of recognition of their non-traditional orientation, or a
different gender identity, or a completely different reason for the inadmissibility
of further coexistence within the family. Here, under high moral pressure,
increased demands or categorical conditions, suicidal tendencies of any teenager
are possible, which in itself is already a tragedy before the arising thoughts find
their way into action.
Against this background, we would like to hope that excessive guilt, a desire to
defend one's moral values and simple stubbornness would not prevent a
teenager from reflecting and making decisions according to common sense and
the current situation.
References
Amish History & Beliefs
https://www.discoverlancaster.com/amish/history-beliefs/
The traditional Amish youth period of Rumspringa
https://ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/the-traditional-amish-youth-period-ofrumspringa
S.H. (2017, April 6). Devil's playground full movie snagfilms [Video]. YouTube.