Mashed potatos and no gravy? But they're both right there!

Three young hutterite girls stopped by my grandmother's house. My grandma is too old to go and get food at the communal kitchen when the dinner bell rings so people always bring her food. These three stop in everyday to give her food. We were sitting and visiting with these girls. We started talking about school since they were on their school break. See, a teacher comes from the nearby school and teaches these children in the school house on the colony but when they get older, the kids will have to go into a public school to continue their education. I asked the girls if they planned on going to college and they all promptly said no and looked at me as if it was a sin to even consider college. I understand that a higher education may not be in their futures as it's unnecessary, but then they started to talk about how they were not going to finish high school either and were just going to get what the law required; their GED or continue with school until they were past 8th grade. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I understand why education is not their top priority but to limit themselves without there being a sufficient reason is beyond me. I have worked in a place where getting a GED is such an accomplishment and it is not obtainable by all because of their living environment and the strain a family puts on a child, but this is not that case. Getting a high school diploma is a dream that will not come true for a lot of them. However, these young girls have every opportunity, but are choosing to not get even a high school education.

I think that taking youth out of the public school system is fine. I've seen the system and man, I thought it was bad when I attended school? Kids, in general, are learning things at a much younger age and advertising it for the world to see. I was at a soccer practice the other day for seven year old boys and those boys were talking about things that they shouldn't have known about for years to come. Their language, attitude, and overall demeanor was astonishing. So... I get not putting your kids in a public school system, but to not understand the importance of a general overall education is quite disturbing. At least make it necessary that they complete high school through the means of home school resources. One of the girls said, "Why should we go to school after 8th grade?" I had no idea what to tell her nor is it my battle to fight. I mean, I know what to say but my concept of schooling and its importance is in a completely different realm than theirs making it impossible to explain. I also understand that the importance of learning how to sew, cook, clean, and treat a husband may be more practical for these youth, but why take mashed potatos and not the gravy when they are both readily available?