I went to Catholic grade school. It was incredibly awesome. Surprised? I’ve heard so many despicable stories lately about the Catholic church, I thought I’d tell a good one.
I had not ONE bad experience at my grade school. That might be an exaggeration…once I wet my pants in first grade…so incredibly embarrassing. It involved paper mache Easter bunnies (that warm water!) and 8th grade helpers (those terrifying older kids!) I was too shy to ask to go. Another involves a kidnapping film shown to all of us in first grade. (Yes, first grade wasn’t so easy for me.) Another involves tripping over an AV cart and landing on my nose…4th grade.
Every Notre Dame sister I had (and I had all nuns) was a great teacher and so dedicated to doing her best. I learned about a loving God…there was no hell and damnation and fire and brimstone that I remember. We learned a lot about the Saints…and some of it scared me…those aren’t easy stories to tell…they could have made it slightly more age appropriate but the good stuf far outweighed the blood and gore. Compared to what kid’s see and hear on TV today it’s nothing.
Yes, we learned of sins…but not in some awful way like being stained with sin from birth, or that we were wretched souls awaiting judgment…but we did learn what sin was, and what it meant to be good and our Ten Commandments and how to be kind people. That was stressed more than ever…little ways to love our neighbor and to be kind to others no matter what. To appreciate what we had because so many people had less than us.
I learned perfection in handwriting…and perfection in neatness and organization and to read, read, read and write, write, write. Reports like crazy. Science and social studies, and math. Religion and art and music…big time, music. Spelling…oh, boy, spelling. With all of that, we fit in two recesses. And a nice long lunch and morning snack. Imagine that…we must be losing hours over the decades?
The school was located on gorgeous acres and acres of woods, and fields and orchards. It was connected right to the Mother House. We had to walk through a tunnel (this is from a child’s point of view…it felt like a tunnel but was really a large basement hallway) to get to church. We went to weekly Mass. We knew better to misbehave. I can hardly remember anyone ever getting in trouble. Really, we had high expectation put upon us and they were clear and we met them. If you talked you got a look and you shut up quick. Just a look is all it took. We were always walking in straight, quiet lines. We were not allowed to gawk at the nuns in the Mother House…we did though…it was like some giant mystery over there and we peeked every chance we got. We saw the nuns working in the laundry room, or the nurse nuns pushing wheelchairs. Exciting stuff, I guess?
We had amazing Christmas concerts. Beautiful. We prepared for weeks. I remember making hundreds and hundreds of beautiful glittery snowflakes and the auditorium was just transformed. We sung our heart out…whether you wanted to or not, you sang and gave it your all.
May Crowning…when we had a special ceremony, Mass and the crowning of Mary was one of my favorite traditions. We all had to gather as many flowers as we could from our gardens at home, and when you put the whole school’s together it was incredible. Someone was chosen to make the crown and to crown Mary and we had to dress up. And I mean dress up. There was no dress down days in our school…once or twice there was dress-up days and it was just as exciting. (For me at least….I’m sure the boys didn’t feel this way.)
We had a beautiful cafeteria and beautiful classrooms. Because WE kept them that way. Right before the afternoon prayer, the Sisters would make us straighten our desks, or wash them down with a bucket and a rag. We had to get down and pick up the tiniest scraps of paper off the floors. Every single tiny dot of paper. Wash and scrub. The janitors had it easy at our school, let me tell you. WE were expected to do the work, because we made the mess. A great way to show respect and teach responsibility. Those nuns were smart.
We were taught the way to do little things and do them right. For example, we were taught how to eat lunch neatly…spread your napkin, put your milk at the top left hand corner, set your lunch items on top of the napkin, respect other’s space, clean up our crumbs and garbage when finished. Have manners.
When we handed in homework, it better be on clean, neat, unwrinkled, wide-ruled, loose leaf notebook paper, and in pen. Our names had to be in cursive in the upper right hand corner. No exceptions. Of course.
We had separate playgrounds…the boys and the girls. It worked out well. No funny stuff. The boys played football…and the girls did too, if they wanted, just don’t cross over the line to the boy’s playground. They told us it was because the boy’s played way too rough and didn’t watch where they were going…part of the truth perhaps. We didn’t care…we just had fun. There was little boy/girl stuff even at the junior high level. Maybe today it’s different, but it was refreshing to not deal with the pressures back then. If you wore make-up, it was rumored that a Sister would take you in the bathroom and make you wash it off immediately with household cleanser. No colored nailpolish. I swear, I have no memory of anyone rebelling.
Outside, the nuns had a cider press. They would pick apples from the orchards in the fall and sell the gallons of cider. How cool is that? I still remember that smell from the corner of the playground of fresh ground apples.
Doesn’t it sound like heaven? It was a little piece, for me at least. I will always appreciate the sacrifice my parents made to send me, and I’ll always appreciate the incredible education the nuns gave me.
So refreshing to hear a positive story involving the Catholic faith. I too have many wonderful memories from my Catholic grade school. I hope my boys will be able to form the same when I eventually send them to theirs:)
Sounds like a wonderful education to me! My mom has the most beautiful handwriting I've ever seen in my life…and she went to a Catholic school too!
I went to Catholic High School (all-girls, it had a convent off to the side) even though I'm Mormon. I just loved it. Everyone was so welcoming and accepting of me and my beliefs. It's amazing how different teenage girls are when there aren't boys around. They actually can be really nice! I loved my Catholic school.
Wow! This is exactly what I thought Catholic school would be. I am a Catholic convert and we sent our boys to 2 years of Catholic School and sadly it was so not that way….not one Nun was teaching at either of their schools ( an elem. & a middle school) Only the elem. son had weekly mass. I have to say our personal experience with Catholic school was a letdown. I even substitute taught to get an inside look the 2nd year and was so disappointed. Saying that, I think I would be hard pressed to find any school, public or private that would provide an experience today like you described. Really makes me long for the good 'ol days….man, I sound old. Thank you for the beautiful description and I am envious you had such a wonderful experience!
Proud graduate of Catholic grade and high school here. Such disappointment when I didn't get into Notre Dame! Now my kids are in Catholic school. Even though I went to school in Cali and my kids are on the East Coast, the linoleum is exactly the same. The polyester jumper, the same. The prayers and rhythm of the day, the same. The constant fundraisers, the same. It's like going home.
I went to Catholic school from grades 7-12 and most people are surprised when I say how much I enjoyed it. I, too, appreciate the sacrifice to send me there and the education I received that I know I wouldn't have otherwise. Not without it's faults, it was all pretty good. Learning to type is most memorable to me. Sitting there at a typewriter with a sister carol saying "f f f space, g g g space", it took me YEARS before I didn't think in my head typing as I spoke. WEIRD!
Emily@remodelingthislife
What a great story. I'm going through some stuff with my oldest son who is 10 right now and trying to decide what is the best route. He is amazing child that just isn't fitting into the public school very well, and i'm not sure home schooling is the right path either. Great story.
Sounds like a fantastic education, to me! I have really great memories of school, right up until fifth grade. That was when all the social yuckiness started. It was also when our school district started doing all kinds of experimental, "creative" things with scheduling and curriculum, due to budget cuts. My first year of high school, my parents sent me to the high school where my father taught, which was in another district. I had the best experiences–academically and socially–during high school. So much of a good education depends on the administration, teachers, and staff working as a whole with common goals, being highly motivated to help the students achieve. I'm sure, even on the high school level, that parents being engaged in what's going on at school helps, too.
BTW, I love the picture you used with this post. What gorgeous lighting, and a beautiful subject, as well.
I am a graduate of Catholic grade school and high school. Love them both! I am still VERY close to 6 girls I have been friends with since kindergarten. We often went out separate ways, but always found our way back to each other. My kids are in Catholic grade school now I love it! It is a significant financial commitment that I would chose over and over again. There is only one nun in a school of 700 kids and she is the best. However, I also feel the lay teachers have a deep commitment to the school and their faith. They could easily leave in teach in our public school district for a lot more money. God bless those ladies!!! AND they go to Mass 2-3 times a week at the urging of the parents. We have 3 priests that are very involved in the school as well. We are very blessed!~
Beautiful memories, Sarah. Thanks for sharing them.
Another happy graduate of Catholic schools here!
Thanks for emphasizing the beauty and happiness that thousands of us have experienced, thanks to devoted Catholic religious orders. In these days of Catholic-bashing, it's important to note the many positive contributions of the Church to American citizens.
My eight siblings and I attended a Catholic grammar school from K to 8. To a one, we have fond memories of the devoted nuns who were our teachers. I remember the May processions (flowers, Mary hymns, and miles of pastel dresses) and 40 Hours' processions (more flowers, incense, hymns, and exposure of the Eucharist) with awe and joy. And I remember the peaceful daily routines and the kind discipline that you described.
My five sisters and I attended an all-girls Catholic high school, where we learned to be proud of being women with Catholic heritage.
Thank you for sharing… we are in constant defense of our catholic faith… and it is a shame when you think of all of the good that the Catholic church does do! My husband and I both went through catholic education and now send all 4 of ours there… mass once a week and no make up or nail polish (in grade school).. I swear sheltering my kids from the scary real world out there is WELL WORTH that Catholic tuition! Discipline, honor and respect are taught and those are values that are being lost elsewhere! Refreshing to see others that still cherish this faith!
I wish there were more nuns teaching in the Catholic schools today. A Catholic education with all lay teachers loses a little something. I begged my parents to send me to Catholic school and they did from grades 7-12, I can never thank them enough. From there I went on to an awesome Catholic college (Franciscan University) and I have appreciated all my experiences. Thanks for shining a positive light on Catholic education 🙂
Beautiful memories. School was different when there were more expectations..I believe that! Guidelines, expectations, boundaries…teachable moments…they're all VERY GOOD things! Thanks for sharing 🙂
As a "retired" (to stay home with our little boy) Catholic school teacher, I'm happy to report that not too much has changed! It is sad that there aren't too many nuns teaching anymore, but thankfully that trend is changing (at least in my area.) There are many young Dominican nuns coming to the Catholic schools- wonderful, wonderful!
I absolutely adored the Catholic school where I taught 1st grade. The focus of the school was to love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. The students prayed one decade of the rosary each day. They had such love and reverence for God and Mary- it truly was beautiful. My first graders also used a daily planner for organization and it had to be neat! So many wonderful virtues are instilled. Thanks for reminding us all of the worthy sacrifice parents make to provide a Catholic school education for their children.
my husband and i have been battling wether or not we should send the kids to private school. we found an amazing school about a half hour away. it's worth the drive to and from because of what a well respected school it is. now we just have to find a way to send them there.
thanks for this post. it's making it a much easier decision.
Yay….happy Catholic memories! I graduated from Catholic grade school as well. I experienced very similar feelings as you. Filled with goodness and happiness. Aaahh. Thanks for the memories.
In some provinces in canada Catholic Schools are publicly funded. They are not parochial like in the States. But I too enjoyed all of my years. Some nuns, not many. A very christian environment. How could it not be when everything we did was measured against what Christ taught. Thank you for sharing your lovely memories.
Dana
The Notre Dame nuns are rooted in such excellence. Your memories bring back many of mine. I remember how we practiced for hours for all occasions, making sure we marched in line…we've come a long way. For my son's First Communion I cried at how awful the ceremony was. Even in the 8 years between my oldest and youngest, so little emphasis was placed on the ceremony that it bordered on pandemonium. Kids looking all around, fooling around, no one reprimanding, practically running down the aisle, all manner of clothing, no reverence, quiet, respect, no little voices singing, ….but I remember mine so vividly and how beautiful it was.
My girls go to a Catholic girl's school and I really think it's the best! There are fewer nuns than there are "regular" teachers but a lot of what you said sounds familiar 🙂 The education is fantastic and the environment is a lot different than the public school where my boys go (although it's a fantastic school too). No school is perfect, but my girls' Catholic academy is pretty darn close and I think some day they will look back with a lot of the same fond memories you have!
that sounds like a movie. 🙂
I went to a Catholic school as well when I was younger. The Catholic church has gotten such a bad rap, but lets all remember that all people of the church are man; man is flawed! (No excuses. If you've done wrong then I believe you should be punished regardless of priest or no priest) Being Catholic myself, I can't say that I agree with every teaching, and I think some things need to be looked over and re-thought out, but overall the overwhelming tradition through the centuries can't be compared to the rest. Faith is a constant process no matter what denomination and I hope well all have the faith to continue through our journey together as brothers and sisters of God.
Sounds lovely! I had a wicked bad mean nun who hated me for a teacher in 6th grade, but other than that I have good memories of Catholic school too.
I wish my memories of Jr High were that wonderful! I had a HORRID time from 7th-9th grades… lots of mean kids, unruly behavior, crappy teachers, and smelly lunch room. If I could, I would LOVE to send my kids to a private school like yours, what a fantastic experience! My kids do attend a charter school, and that's been a great thing for them with uniforms and high expectations. Thanks for sharing those beautiful memories, how wonderful those must be nestled in your mind forever.
Oh, the memories your story brought back to me! I went to Catholic schools from 1st grade all the way through college and loved every minute of it as well. We didn't have many nuns in elementary school (2, I think), but my all-girls high school was about 75% nuns, with the mother house on the property as well. They too were Notre Dame nuns – Sisters of Notre Dame to be exact, but I know there are other Notre Dame orders.
My children also go to Catholic schools now and I wouldn't have it any other way, regardless of the sacrifices we make financially. I have neighbors, even Catholic ones, who are amazed we pay the money for parochial schools. Although some things have changed, most of my kids' education is just like mine was. And I'm glad for that.
i read all the time, have never commented, hello 🙂
i am currently in a catholic secondary school in england, and my mother and her mother before me, but they were tought by the nuns, the tales they have told me! my priests, and teachers are always lovely, not one bad experience, we can go to mass each morning, see our chaplin, and go to confession, its lovely, the press at the moment is rare, but everything has a history unfortunatly 🙁 great post!
When we lived in England my siblings and I went to the "Church of England" school…based on some Catholic teachings and it was very similar to this. We wore our school uniforms and everything was so proper and organized. I wish school was a little more like that for my kids. I'm so glad you had such a good experience there.
I have those wonderful memories too…only I had them in public school. I think BOTH are good if you get a good admin. and great teachers! Now days, I just don't think enough is expected out of kids in regards to neatness and respect. Sad. I do pray that kids now have wonderful childhood memories too!
What a wonderful experience!
Love the post! I am trying to figure out what my oldest daughter should wear for her Confirmation this Saturday. Any suggestions?
I attended a Missouri Synod Lutheran school and had wonderful experiences. I was given such a strong primary education (latin and all) that the rest of my schooling years were a cinch. My teachers loved us and truly cared about our learning. Parents were heavily involved. It was a great time.
I went to public school beginning in the 50's when prayer was still allowed in school. My elementary education sounded a lot like yours. It is a shame that this kind of education is rare these days – even in private school.
My son goes to Catholic school too and so many of the things you have mentioned are exactly the reason why we spend the small fortune we pay to send him there. I was absolutely SHOCKED the first few times I visited and saw how well behaved the kids are and the great manners they use in school. I'm hoping that will eventually translate to his home life..lol. He does not have any nuns as teachers but I do see how the teachers really care about each student and it's so nice that he knows all of the teachers in the school not just his teacher. Picking up all the bits of paper off the floor…yes they do that too.
Hi,
I am not Catholic, but when we I was a child, my mother sent me to a nun for music lessons and I have very fond memories of my time with her. It was in the days when they dressed in their full habit, which they don't seem to do now so much. She was strict with me, but kind too, and now I am grateful for those early disciplines. I loved walking through the old gardens at the convent and into the old buildings with the wooden floors. As a 'protestant' I was fascinated with their clothes, and I got into trouble once or twice for 'staring' at the nuns. But all the same, I do have good memories of them. Just the other week, my children helped an elderly nun at the grocery store when she dropped something and the dear lady commended me on my well-behaved children. What praise! Also, the Catholic schools here in NZ are highly sought-after. They do seem to be the best around.
Such a great story! Thanks for sharing! I pray my children have such fond memories of grade school. I only wish we could afford the Catholic school education.
My daughter's First Communion class gets to do the May Crowning on Sunday all dressed in their First Communion dresses (without veils). She is so excited about it! And one lucky student gets to crown Mary! She can hardly wait.
Very nice story, thanks for sharing that. I wish I could send my kids to Catholic school!
I love this post!! I'm sooo tired of hearing allll negative about The Catholic Church!!! There is bad in EVERY religion! Arrrgh 🙁 I'm getting all heated up now! Anyway, loved it! And I didn't get to read your last post until just now….great pics! I especially love the one with Abbey in those turquoise glasses reading on the beach 🙂 So great!
Thank you for this post. I have sent my children to Catholic School for the past 5 years and then was forced to pull them because of the expense.
I can not stress the culture shock from moving to the public school. Our neighborhood school is a great school but, it can not compare to the type of environment that GOD can provide.
I was raised Catholic. The kindness and forgiveness teachings are paramount.
The Catholic Religion is a beautiful religion rich with tradition, ceremony, and forgiving hearts. I am so pleased that so many have experienced this.
God Bless you!
I love that you have shared these experiences with us. All churches today have things in the press that are negative, why is it that all the good simply gets pushed by the way side and only the few bad things are reported, thus distorting the view for outside observers? I have great respect for those of your faith and have always said if I could afford it, my children would all go to catholic schools. The values taught at home are reinforced there: respect, manners, hard work and neatness to name just a few. Instead, we just try and undo the bad social behaviors our kids might pick up in public schools and pray for acceptance into good universities–so far so good!
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I am not a catholic (I'm a mormon), but I read this wistfully, as I taught public school for a few years, and wish now that I had expected more of my students (I was very young… and frankly unprepared). Now as the mother of 5, I really wish their teachers expected the kind of respect and manners you so poignantly describe. We expect this as parents, and I am sure that all children would be able to rise to such standards, if given the chance. It is odd to me that these days some seem to think that children's self esteem can be bolstered merely by telling them they're "awesome", and that their relationship with their parent or teacher will be closer if the adult is their "buddy". Sweet story… should be required reading for all principals, teachers, and parents! 😉
Notre Dame Elementary School, is the school where the spirit's strong, to live our best, blah blah blah something something, we're proud to belong! haha remember the school song. That was the best school I ever went to. I learned more there than in high school or college. I do remember the kidnapper movie, though. I guess they didn't know about how kids could be traumatized back then. And the jelly beans the girl took from the "stranger" looked so GOOD. did you stay for the end when they showed the police footage of all the pieces of the kid in the storm drain? Cause I ran home from the bus stop every day after that, I'll tell you…yikes. -katie
I went to a small, rural Catholic school from 1-8 grades in the '70's. By the 90's, there were insurmountable issues involving declining enrollment, discipline issues, lack of funding, and aging population in the order and the school closed after 50 or so years of operation. But my time there was a very positive experience. I loved the nuns, loved the priest, loved being "part" of something special. I'm very grateful that my parents sent me there.
Great post! Your school sounds heavenly! How do you feel about your children's current school? It's Catholic, right? Are you happy with your decision to send them there?
We are struggling with making a decision soon, our oldest goes to Kinder this year. One of the things I like about Catholic schools is that they are not required to follow the same testing standards as public schools. This leaves them more room for prayer, theology, arts, etc. Could you imagine if they have to get kids prepared for the FCAT? (that's Florida's big test) They would have no time to learn about Catholic faith.
I think it's a great way to go, and we're leaning towards making this commitment. Your post only reinforces my belief even more. Thanks again!
Love the post. Sad that the Catholic church is getting such a bad rap right now. You know where I stand…my girls are signed up for preschool already at our Catholic church. My husband went from K-college. It feels so much like a family and I love it!
I love these memories, Sarah. We have some nieces that go to Catholic school and love it. I love how you cleaned every day…I remember my 2nd grade teacher all giving us long pieces of masking tape and we would go around the carpet and see how many things we could get to stick on our tape. I never thought of it as cleaning though…
A friend sent me a link to this post, and I appreciate it so much. Thank you.
i appreciate the respect you have for catholic school. i just graduated form a catholic grade school and i have to say that my time spent there left me with the best foundation for high school.i really loved every thing about it as well.