At each yearly ceremony, the children are arranged by the numbers they received at birth. Jonas is number 19, so he is one of the older children in the group of 50. Birth numbers are seldom used after children receive names. However, birth order matters at the Ceremony of Twelve. Children receive assignments in the order they were born.

The Chief Elder, a community leader elected every 10 years, makes the first speech at the Ceremony of Twelve. She also announces the job assignments. The Chief Elder begins her speech by commenting on the hallmarks of childhood, discussing the impending responsibilities of adulthood, and reflecting on the importance of assignments. She notes that the assignment of jobs is a rare instance when the community acknowledges differences. Prior to receiving assignments, the children are focused on minimizing differences. They are urged to standardize their behavior, to fit in.

When it is time to reveal Asher’s assignment, the Chief Elder shares an anecdote about how he had trouble using language precisely as a young child. Small children who do not follow the rules get smacked with a discipline wand that causes their skin to sting. One time,

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now