Obtaining a proper education is a very important goal in many Hutterite colonies; however, for Hutterites education is not simply learning academics in school.  It includes social learning, academics, cooperative work, on the job learning.

The first education Hutterian children receive starts with kindergarten.  (Kindergarten is actually a Hutterian concept that began almost 500 years ago.)  Children between the ages of 2.5 years and 5 years attend Kindergarten. There they learn to play together, to sing Hutterian songs, to pray, and to share.

Essenschuel

When children reach their 5th birthday, they graduate to the children's dining room (Essenschuel). Up until this time, children eat at home or in the kindergarten.  In the essenschuel table manners, thankfulness, respect,  and obedience are strongly encouraged.

The essenschuel children are supervised by a colony appointed Schuellehrer (German school teacher) and his wife. The Schuellehrer is also responsible for disciplining the children and addressing issues as they arise.

After the age of five, children attend regular English and German classes. Typically, Hutterite children attend German school from 8:00 am to 9:00am before the English school day begins.  Usually this is followed by an hour of German school from 4:00 to 5:00.  German school typically lasts from mid October to the end of April.  English classes follow the regular state and province mandated time schedules.

Courses
The courses taught in school are the basics like math, language arts, social studies, science and German. Sometimes, in some colonies, optional high school courses such as music, biology, computer science and carpentry are available. Many of these courses are delivered via distance education. Some colonies have access to high school teachers onsite; others use teleconferencing or even videoconferencing. In many cases Hutterite schools work together and help each other deliver courses either through tele- or video conferencing. This co-operation is necessary because most schools are small and have a limited number of students per course.

Adults' Dining Room

Hutterite children are initiated into adulthood when they are fifteen years old. They start eating with the adults in the the adults' dining room and are considered adults. An unmarried male over the age of fifteen is called Buah and an unmarried female is called Dieh.