A Catholic-School Veteran Tells All

I, like Mr. Noonan, spent thirteen years under the thumb of the cute little penguins and, like, Mr. Noonan, I too received my share of corporal punishment! I was the one who's skirt always failed the ruler test and I was the one getting hit by said ruler across the hand(s). However, I disagree with his bottom line. Because of the physical punishments doled out I did not become afraid or cower in fear at the passing of a black-robed bride of Christ, rather I learned responsibility and that there are consequences for all our actions. Responsibility, a character trait that is sorely missing from all lessons received by children of today. It also taught me that after such punishment, nothing else in life is as embarrassing and now that I've lived through it - nothing embarrasses me today and I'm able to deal with all the crap everyday life throws my way because I survived the 50s and 60s in a school environment that brought instant correction and, although painful, taught me right from wrong! Another positive effect of such punishments. They should have saved water boarding for school not for prisoners! Discipline is lacking in every aspect of society today so maybe as your poll results reflect we should bring back the good old days by adding "punishment classes" for aspiring teachers. Maybe then we wouldn't have the myiad problems we now experience because of under-educated, poorly reared children who know nothing of responsibility or discipline. My bottom line would be remember, whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and those nuns made me very strong!

Maybe, You are confusing with been abusive, fear and nonsense reprimand versus paddle!. We need paddle in our schools but only with sense and human dignity.

ask your self one question? if you had not had this happen what who you be like now , these no respectfull lil hoodlems running the sreets these day. it was the same way in the 80's too , kind of greatfull for it, fear of conscquences

I went to Catholic school AND did 4 years in the Marine Corps.. I'm the most successful person in my family. Thanks to spankings and discipline. You need to stop whining and get over it!
OORAH!

I went to Catholic Shool in New Jersey also, and my friends and I know well the sting of Sister Catherine Josephine's right and left cross... I don't remember one time that she wacked someone for no reason at all.

jamazing41 why don't you stop commenting on everyone's comments and tell us your story... you do sound like you're having a big problem with this article... By the way the nuns didn't come close to the Marine Corps Drill Instructors at Parris Island in the late 50's and early 60's. I firmly believe both organizations made me a better parent and person during Viet Nam and Newark riots when I was a police officer all the way up to today when I'm in software and just may make 10 times your salary... Semper Fi!

I attended a Catholic School from 1952 to 1957 when I went on to a public High School. Corporeal punishment was used in almost all schools at that time it was socialy acceptable and considered appriate discipline. When we got wacked we deserved it.We had 40 to 50 childern in a classroom discipline was essential WE LEARNED DISCIPLINE.At that time we took an academic assesment called The Iowa Basics it was used throughout the area all schools public and private took it.Our special preperation for the test consisted of Sister telling us on Friday "make sure you get a good nights sleep Sunday because we will have a test Monday and its important." We did not spend 6 weeks preping for it as is done today. In some ways we had more freedom then students have today. A farmer had a small pasture he was not using about 5 acres, it was about 2 blocks away from the school he told the nuns it would be fine with him if the boys wanted to use it for games and sports.On most days all of the boys from 5th thru 8th grade would troop down to the field.We played baseball, football, king of the hill and, we built huge snow forts and had SNOWBALL FIGHTS. But we knew that we had to start back to school at 12:55 because the bell rang at 1:00 and we had to be seated in class by 1:05 We learned Personal Responsibilty I forgot was not an acceptable excuse.There was no one there to tell us we had to do it ourselves. I have to finish this now. The punishments meted out by the sisters were not excessive for the time and usually appropriate for the offense. But more importantly we learned responsibilty, discipline, academics, morals and. our faith.

I attended a Catholic School from 1952 to 1957 when I went on to a public High School. Corporeal punishment was used in almost all schools at that time it was socialy acceptable and considered appriate discipline. When we got wacked we deserved it.We had 40 to 50 childern in a classroom discipline was essential WE LEARNED DISCIPLINE.At that time we took an academic assesment called The Iowa Basics it was used throughout the area all schools public and private took it.Our special preperation for the test consisted of Sister telling us on Friday "make sure you get a good nights sleep Sunday because we will have a test Monday and its important." We did not spend 6 weeks preping for it as is done today. In some ways we had more freedom then students have today. A farmer had a small pasture he was not using about 5 acres, it was about 2 blocks away from the school he told the nuns it would be fine with him if the boys wanted to use it for games and sports.On most days all of the boys from 5th thru 8th grade would troop down to the field.We played baseball, football, king of the hill and, we built huge snow forts and had SNOWBALL FIGHTS. But we knew that we had to start back to school at 12:55 because the bell rang at 1:00 and we had to be seated in class by 1:05 We learned Personal Responsibilty I forgot was not an acceptable excuse.There was no one there to tell us we had to do it ourselves. I have to finish this now. The punishments meted out by the sisters were not excessive for the time and usually appropriate for the offense. But more importantly we learned responsibilty, discipline, academics, morals and. our faith.

Oh and as far as what 5yo needs to learn fear and humility?? Look around this country and the answer is every single last one of them. You can line them up at my door and my sister and I will take care of them if you don't have the guts to do what needs to be done. People wonder why they can't get control of their kids in public, why their kids call them names and laugh (or shoot them and others) when they tell them no. Fear and humility are best learned young because if you wait too long, it will be too late and your kids could end up dead or in jail simply because they never learned to fear consequences. Khalil Gibran says it best,

"On Pain

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses
your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its
heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the
daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem
less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart,
even as you have always accepted the seasons that
pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the
winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within
you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy
in silence and tranquillity:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by
the tender hand of the Unseen,

And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has
been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has
moistened with His own sacred tears."

Khalil Gibran

I can understand that spanking your child is a personal choice and many people who don't spank look at those of us who do like we are monsters, but here's my two cents. I believe that it is a good thing, within certain limitations as with all things. I was born in 84 and CP was still strong when I was in school but waning fast. Being an unruly child, I firmly believe that I could have turned out a lot worse than I did if my teachers hadn't been able to spank me. See here's the thing, we send our kids to school and make them the teacher's responsibility, but we tie their hands when it comes to discipline, why? Anyone who is put in charge of our children for more time than most parents spend with their own kids should be allowed to participate in administering discipline. And like parents, not all teachers will choose to spank kids even when given the option. Corporal punishment was never a mandatory sentence, it was always the teacher's option only with permission from the parent, and I will gladly sign a waiver for it when my daughter starts school in three years.

I had 13 years of Catholic school and yea there were nuns and lay teachers who used hands and rulers but I am none the worse for wear. the wrriter says "what 5th grader doesn't need this?" My son teaches 5th grade and except for 3 students the rest of his need it. Parents now think the teacher should raise their kids....

Education has come a long way since the 60s when I grew up in. Many of our teachers were only two-year trained, both at Catholic and public schools. The Benedictine Sisters in Idaho educated me and there was never a spanking that wasn't deserved. The pertinent issue is that punishment should be administered at home but there is no appropriate home for so many kids nowadays. Society faces many challenges and too often raising kids falls on the schools. I'm sure we'll survive.
I appreciate my parents sending my sister and me to parochial school. I believe that we learned more academically and about how to get along well in life. Thank you, Benedictine Sisters!
Marv Yates