A Catholic-School Veteran Tells All

I went to Catholic school for 6 years in the 50's. One nun inparticular comes to mind...she was mean and did not seem to like childern..what was she doing in a school? Oh that they could have all been nuns like the one's in "the bells of St. Mary". But then public school was worse...the girls had to lift their dresses to swats with a paddle...when I became a mother I told the school NOONE touchs me girls, if they need disipline call me, I'll be here in 5mins and take care of it but anyone touchs my kids will not be happy..... they got the message.

Our Franciscan nuns at St. John's in New Brighton, MN were a pretty gentle bunch, many coming from farms in Iowa. The only brutality I heard of was when my little sister Lisa kicked Sister Beatrice in the knee while being scolded. She did some time in the principal's office and Sister B. called my parents. Lisa received a little corporal punishment (spankings were the typical) at home.

Unfortunatly the parochial schools did not have a monopoly on physical abuse during the 40s and 50s. It was rampant in the public schools that I attended. Most children knew if they received a apanking in school, they cuuld count on getting another apanking at home.
I recall in particular one frist grade teacher that took out her frustrtions on a set of twins. Periodically she would go out on the playground and take them inside and administer a spanking with a fire paddle. II often wonder what happened to those girls, the family moved away a couplde of years later.

I spent six horrible years in a Catholic school. Saw plenty of corporal punishment, but didn't receive any. What I got was a steady dose of verbal abuse and humiliation from the miserable coven of crones that were supposed to be teaching me. I got terrible grades and was convinced I was mentally retarded. Once I got into a public junior high and high school, I found out that wasn't the case. I was always on the honor roll, ultimately went to Northwestern University with a generous amount of scholarships and was on the dean's list. All I needed was a chance to get out from that oppressive and abusive environment so I could thrive. One other thing: those hypocrites so turned me against religion that I've never darkened the doorway of a Catholic church again. Years later, I became friends with a true Christian, who helped me open my mind again to belief in God, which was nothing short of a miracle after my childhood experiences with those "brides of Christ."

I went to Catholic School for 8 years (8 years too many). Some of the nuns were very nice (and were also made fun of by the other not-so-nice nuns). I was always been bad at math (still am) - I got hit across the face so hard that it left a hand print for a few minutes before turning bright red. And I remember to this day what she said - I will knock the math into your head and you WILL learn. I remember all the girls wearing sweaters in the 8th grade, in the summer time with 90 degree heat and full humidity cause God forbid, the boys would actually see the girls developing a chest. Brides of Christ - I don't think so. More like Brides of Frankenstein. After I left that school, I told my mother what happened. She said I should have told her and she would have gone to the school to demand an explanation for the abuse - I told her that I would just have gotten it worst the next day (I may not have been good at math, but I wasn't that stupid).

Those that support being hit in catholic schools are confusing discipline with child abuse. Child abuse reigned supreme in catholic school!! What chsnce did a kid get? Whining? You try repressing child abuse

Graduating in 2006, I attended Catholic school for 13 years. I was only taught by two nuns and one brother and they are some of the best teachers I have ever had. While my parents both attended Catholic school in the 60's and 70's, I have never heard either of them mention the corporal punishment that took place. I don't doubt that it happened and it is a shame that the actions of a few have alientated so many from the Church. I am truly sorry that Catholic schools have this kind of a name because I believe that they are essential in educating in morals and ethics as well as facts. I also am disappointed by the diminishing presence that religious have left in our schools. These people have a lot to teach others.

Chromedome: I was a third-grade girl who got my hands smacked with a ruler because my cartridge-fueled fountain pen ran out in the middle of a spelling test. Sister was very consistent-and ruthless-in her quest for perfection. We did NOT all deserve what we got, and at the age of 57 I still believe there is a special room in Hell for nuns who beat up small children for no offense more serious that mine.

Time to wake up people and see this for what it is: indoctrination into a mind control cult.

I was born in Germany and immigrated to thye USA wgen I was 5. I still remejmber being hit on my fingers by a nun because I didn't follow a class rule. I didn't yet speak English. A few years later, I was hit on the head with a window-opener rod by ione of these Christian women. And of coiurse, I'm no lionger a Catholic.

Graduating high school in 2006, I attended 13 years of Catholic school. I was only taught by two nuns and they were some of the best teachers I have ever had. While my parents attended Catholic school, I have never heard them talk about any corporal punishment that took place. We should be no means ignore what has happened and it is so sad that the actions of some have alientated and hurt so many. It is a shame so many of our religious have left the schools and that such a bad reputation came from this kind of abuse.

I remember one of the boys in my class was absolutely hated by the nuns. One year a nun was not satisfied with the usual slapping and shoving and she had a girl sitting next to this boy use the pointed end of her protractor on the back of his hand. When she was hesitant the nun urged her to push it harder in his hand. This was 5th grade and I was scared and horrified.

I started out my education in the public school system about 1960 and was smacked across the face by a teacher -- I believe I was in the second or third grade -- for no reason, as I remember. Our house was just a block away from school, so at recess I ran home crying and my mom sent me back. I went to Catholic school starting midway through the 3rd grade. I was never hit by a nun, but was very impressed and afraid of their imposing and righteous demeanor.

Actually, the violence was at home -- my dad's favorite saying was that he didn't need a belt, he had a good right hand. We lived in fear every night, searching the house before Dad got home from work, making sure there wasn't anything out of place that would spark an outburst from him, a good Catholic man, active in the church, sang in the choir.

So nuns weren't the only ones who meted out corporal punishment in that era. It was pervasive in Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant and many other fine upstanding families.

I started out my education in the public school system about 1960 and was smacked across the face by a teacher -- I believe I was in the second or third grade -- for no reason, as I remember. Our house was just a block away from school, so at recess I ran home crying and my mom sent me back. I went to Catholic school starting midway through the 3rd grade. I was never hit by a nun, but was very impressed and afraid of their imposing and righteous demeanor.

Actually, the violence was at home -- my dad's favorite saying was that he didn't need a belt, he had a good right hand. We lived in fear every night, searching the house before Dad got home from work, making sure there wasn't anything out of place that would spark an outburst from him, a good Catholic man, active in the church, sang in the choir.

So nuns weren't the only ones who meted out corporal punishment in that era. It was pervasive in Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant and many other fine upstanding families.

I was a veteran of Catholic education where students get whacked with every infraction. Most of us behaved in school, exert every effort to study and ended up doing well in our adult life -- career or family wise. This type of discipline is the rule in Asia where students are not allowed to misbehave in school and teachers with the administrators are addressed with respect. Compared with U.S. system, you'll understand why this country had to import their better educated class from Asia and transplant from the region do a lot better in school than their peers.