The Amish Teacher's Dilemma and Healing Their Amish Hearts by Patricia Davids (all ebook reader .txt) 📕

certain that their little ones understand a goot amount of English before the first grade because they were going to attend an Englisch school. That may not be the case for some of our new arrivals.”

Amish children spoke Pennsylvania Dutch at home but school was where they learned English to communicate with non-Amish neighbors, merchants and customers. English and German reading and writing were both taught in school but only English was spoken there.

“You will need a teacher’s helper,” Bethany said. “My little sister Jenny will be happy to take on the task.”

Eva had often been a teacher’s helper. It had been her job to hand out readers to the three lowest grades and help any of the younger children with their schoolwork. Having such a position was the only preparation a young Amish woman normally had before becoming a teacher. It was the responsibility of the teacher to show her replacement what she needed to know for several months before letting her take over.

Eva remembered the oldest students working on their math or science assignments during the morning hours while the teacher listened to the small ones read. When the older students were finished with their work, they helped the younger children who needed assistance. In the Amish school she had attended, each scholar knew what was expected of them, and they did it without instructions. For many of the children it would be a big change from learning in a public school. They would all have to become accustomed to new routines. As would their teacher.

“You can expect mothers to sit in on classes to see what their children are learning for the first few weeks,” Dinah said. “I’m sure you remember school outings.”

She did but she hadn’t considered that she would have to plan them. There would be picnics and special trips to be arranged. Eva sighed heavily. She wasn’t sure she was up to the task. Becoming a teacher had seemed so easy when she was reading the want ad in her brother’s home.

Dinah refilled everyone’s cup. “This year will be our first Amish school Christmas program. I know the children and the parents are excited about that.”

The Christmas program! How could she have forgotten about planning a Christmas program? There would be songs and poems to be practiced. Somehow, she would have to come up with a play for the children to perform. She grasped Dinah’s arm. “How do I find Christmas plays and poems for the kinder?”

Dinah patted her hand. “Not to worry. I will give you the address for The Bulletin Board. It’s a newsletter put out by Amish teachers. You can ask any question and get a dozen sound answers from teachers with years of experience and some who have new ideas.”

Gemma frowned slightly. “I wonder where my husband is. Jesse was going to pick me up this afternoon. Hope has a doctor’s appointment and Dale Kaufman was going to drive us into Caribou.”

“Has she been sick?” Eva asked in concern.

Gemma shook her head. “Nothing like that. She was born prematurely, and she is at risk for developmental delays. Our midwife insists that Hope’s pediatrician keep close tabs on her. So far she is hitting all her milestones, Gott be praised.”

“Gott be praised indeed,” came a man’s deep voice from the sitting room. He stepped into the kitchen and dwarfed the little room. Eva had heard the expression a mountain of a man but she had never met one until now.

Gemma got up from the table with Hope in her arms. “I thought you forgot us.”

“Never. I was sidetracked for a few minutes by a little girl who wanted me to push her on the swings because her brothers were all busy and Bubble said I could do it.”

Eva grinned. “Maddie is adorable. I wish I could be like her.”

Bethany laughed. “Because she gets to say anything and blame it on her imaginary friend? I can see the appeal in that.”

“Are you going to take a meal to the Gingrich clan again tonight?” Jesse asked with a rumble of humor in his deep voice.

Eva shook her head, not the least bit surprised that Maddie had mentioned her gesture. “I may do some baking for them tomorrow. I was going to spread the word at the next prayer meeting that they need some ready-made meals.”

The three women exchanged puzzled glances. Dinah drummed her fingers on the table. “We took the family meals for the first week after they arrived, but Willis insisted he didn’t need more help.”

Eva could see him letting his pride get in the way of accepting help. “According to Maddie and Bubble he is a poor cook. Speaking of Bubble, what am I going to do with Maddie’s imaginary friend in the first grade?”

“That you will have to decide for yourself,” Dinah said. “I’ve known of a few Amish children with imaginary friends but never one that brought his or her friend to school.”

Outside a car horn honked. Jesse took the baby from his wife’s arms. The look in his eyes and his tender smile told Eva how much he loved his little girl. “We should get going. Dale hates to be kept waiting.”

Dinah rose to her feet. “I should get going, too. My husband says my work would take half as long if I stopped talking. I hate to tell him it’s never going to happen.”

Eva follow her guests outside. She waved as Jesse and Gemma were driven away in a yellow pickup by a middle-aged Englisch fellow wearing a red ball cap. Dinah helped Bethany into the buggy on the passenger side and closed the door then turned back to Eva. “As a teacher you will be in a unique position to judge the welfare of your scholars. Our bishop is a kind man. If you feel a child’s family may be in need, don’t hesitate to mention it to him.”

It was another aspect of being a teacher that Eva hadn’t considered. She would be responsible for more