Education
Despite what educators may perceive in the classroom at times, the fact is that education is indeed an important aspect of Mennonite life. Mennonites have always had schools throughout their history. Many of the early church founders, Grebel, Hubmaier, Denck and Menno Simons, just to name a few, had university training. None of these men wrote to the extent that mainstream Reformation leaders did, but they definitely valued learning and took advantage of it to promote their beliefs. One of the key motivators during this particular era was the desire to read the Bible - which also spurred the people to give their children a good education if they were able. Some groups of Anabaptists (from which the Mennonites descended) were well known leaders in elementary education and were even sought out by non-Anabaptist noblemen who wished their children to have a solid education. As Mennonites migrated through Europe, into Russia, and then later to North America, they built schools wherever they went.
Of course there always were, and continue to be, more conservative Mennonites who believe in as little education as needed to get by. Some fear that possessing too much knowledge will lead them astray from their faith and possibly even make them responsible for more than they wish to be in regards to spiritual matters. High school and secondary education may seem particularly threatening to the beliefs and ways of life for some Mennonites. They fear that a higher education will cause their children to challenge and doubt the faith and values they have been brought up with. As a result, many conservative Mennonites reject higher education altogether. These fears may be well founded from their own point of view, for what does a secular education push if not critical and progressive thinking? These may indeed lead to students question the very traditions, values and beliefs the Mennonite culture is saturated with. It is the job of educators to ensure that their students become critical thinkers without doing so in a way that threatens their way of life. Canada is a multicultural society, sworn to upholding the customs and culture of it's citizens - a multicultural mosaic. In this, we must reassure the Mennonite community that their beliefs and values are not at stake with the elevation of educational values.
Some of the above information was rephrased and taken from:
http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/encyclopedia/a-z/m6/8
Photo retrieved from:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/literacy/raiseareader/School+division+builds+rapport+with+Alberta+German+Mennonites+with+video/7497103/story.html
Some of the above information was rephrased and taken from:
http://www.multiculturalcanada.ca/encyclopedia/a-z/m6/8
Photo retrieved from:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/literacy/raiseareader/School+division+builds+rapport+with+Alberta+German+Mennonites+with+video/7497103/story.html