The Old Order Amish, or Mennonites, are a religious sect that represents both a traditional and changing culture. Their conservatism is evidenced in their rural way of life, large families of 8 to 12 children, use of horse drawn farm machinery and transportation, nonuse of electricity, and uniformity of dress. The Old Order Amish also present a rapidly changing culture due to scarcity of farm land available for younger families and competing modern ideas. The majority of Old Order Amish buy health services when needed, but they do not carry insurance on property or personal life. They insist upon strict separation of church and state and do not participate in the social security system. Old Order Amish also believe that an eighth grade, parochial education with no kindergarten is adequate for their children. Reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion are the basic curriculum. Basal textbooks are used in social studies, but science texts omit a study of evolution and contain Biblical injunctions. Schools are usually one-room buildings with outdoor privies and horse barns. Lack of electricity prohibits utilization of audio-visual aids. Old Order Amish pupils rank well in standardized achievement test results. (NEC)