Nuns and Priests

1. 82

   gmwilliamsposted 12 years ago

   Anyone who attended Catholic schools can attest to the discipline, sometimes harsh, that they received from the nuns and priests.   One man informed me that in his high school, the priests or brothers will regularly hit him for a minute infraction.   A woman I know relayed to me that a nun often spanked her for some unknown reason.   
   
   To counter those with negative experiences, there are many others who had a wonderful and enriching counter with the nuns and priests.   One such women asserted that it was a special 11th grade teacher who informed her that she could do whatever she set her mind to doing.  Does anyone have any tales that they wish to relay regarding their Catholic school days?

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2. 74

   Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

   This wil be an interesting thread. Great topic!
   
   I suspect that the "corporal punishment" that used to be SOP decades ago is no longer.
   Not even parents can spank their kids anymore!
   
   I did not go to Catholic school But do remember in CCD classes an instructor named Sister Ronald. She would rap our knuckles with a ruler. That kind of discipline did not happen in my public school (at least, not that I witnessed).
   
   My Mom went to Catholic high school (NH) but private college (MA)
   My Dad went to Catholic high school and Catholic college (NY).
   My brother went to Catholic high school and UC system college (CA).
   My oldest nephew is getting ready to graduate Catholic high school in CA  and go to a Catholic college in MD.
   His brother is now applying to the same Catholic high school. 
   
   So we have multi-generational, bicoastal Catholic school experience.
   I heard nothing but good stories from my Dad.
   I think my Mom's experience was mixed.
   And the boys' school is modern and positive.
   Heck, if anyone was swatting her sons, I know my sister would come down on them like a ton of bricks!

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   1. 82

      gmwilliamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Mighty Mom.   The old mind keeps cranking them out! Yes, corporal punishment was quite de rigueur in Catholic school decades ago.   It was not unusual for children to be swatted for the most insignificant offense, at least in the eyes of the nuns and priests.   Nuns in the olden days were quite famous for not sparring the rod.   And if the child was corporally punished in school, chances are that he/she will receive the same or similar treatment at home.   Parents in those days believed the word of the nuns and priests over that of the child.    They seldom, if ever, came to the defense of the child.    If the child was punished that meant that he/she did something to warrant the punishment.    You are right, MM, this would be a great topic for one of my future hubs.   
      
      I have done some reading regarding the abuse of children in Catholic schools decades ago.   Many of the nuns and priests were semiabusive to the children.    In Catholic schools, strict and unerring obedience were qualities that were greatly valued.  Children who were independent minded and/or otherwise "disobedient" to the strictures so to speak were severely punished either verbally or emotionally.   I attended a strict private Catholic school myself from elementary school to the university/college level.   I can attest to this.   Not for me-I was a teacher's pet throughout elementary school.   But woe to the children who were deemed to be "problematic"-such children caught HELL frequently.

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      1. 74

         Mighty Momposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         You raise such an important point.
         The kids that were disciplined were probably not "bad" kids whatsoever.
         They might have been what we call these days, ADHD.
         Or simply just too independent thinking to accept the strict teachings without question.
         Who knows. They may have grown up to be free thinkers!
         
         But you also raise another important point about the emotional stability of clergy and nuns.
         Not entirely sure that just because your calling is to God, that that makes you qualified to be around young kids in a consistently positive way...
         
         Times have really changed.
         There are still a few of those old school priests lingering about. But I think, even as reluctant to change as the Church is, they have had to adapt to changing social mores and attitudes.
         Parents do spoil the child (and hover like helicopters) these days.
         And kids are savvy. If a teacher tries to get physical, other students will capture it on video.
         And they all know the term "CPS" (maybe not really understanding what it is) but certainly know adults are not allowed the kind of discipline we grew up with!

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         1. 82

            gmwilliamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Not to digress, Mighty Mom.   There were a group of middle aged women(my age) discussing problem children.  One of them stated that in the olden days, such children were disciplined, often spanked.   However, one of them interjected, stating that younger children would actually threaten to call Child Protective Services or Human Services if their parents ever laid a hand on them.     I remember in high school, one student loudly stated that if her parents hit her, she would call Human Services and have them imprisoned.   She asserted that her parents did not have rights over her. 
            
            You are right that parents nowadays spoil their children to the utter point of ruination.  Employers are getting wind of the first wave of helicoptees in the work place.   These adult children are highly entitled and they believe that they are not wrong whatsoever.   They have poor judgment skills and are highly risk aversive.   I was reading an article about this the other day.     If the "children" found work to be intolerable, they could whine to their parents or quit their jobs.    I remember my parents telling me to tough things out and if I did not like the job at hand, stay there and look for something better.   You are right, there is a MARKED DIFFERENCE between how we boomers were raised and how the millenial generation was raised.   Good discussion, MM.

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