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Back in my archives, I probably have a half dozen posts I’ve shared about my school years, especially pertaining to the EIGHT YEARS I spent in Catholic school.

I prefer to think of those years as, "the eight years I spent not in a school, no, but rather the eight years I spent in a hard labor and discipline penitentiary, which periodically involved having my knuckles cracked with a 12-inch wooden ruler by a HOLY nun."

But I’m not bitter or anything.

To put it bluntly….I HATED school. I honestly don’t know how I ever got through those eight years. Catholic school was all about learning through the fear of GOD and that if you couldn’t recite your multiplication tables correctly, God would be very disappointed in you; resulting in SIN.

Personally, I don’t feel that teaching education and religion together is wise because it confuses a young mind into believing that God only loves you if you know the multiplication tables.

And overall, that’s what Catholic school taught when I was a lad.

School got a bit easier as I transferred over to a public high school. Public school was good for me because it had more of an open feel; blending children from diverse cultural backgrounds. But even still, I’m not a big advocate of structuralized education when it comes to me. I would have done much better had my parents just threw me into the street and said, “Okay Ronnie, LEARN.”

To tell you the truth, my most valuable education was when I got OUT of school because I began to investigate things and discovered that I learned better through research. I like to hunt for education.

The only real joy I ever got out of school was going shopping towards the end of the summer with my wild mother, and buying school supplies.

There was something so utterly exciting about getting all new school supplies, which included a new book bag to carry around the books I NEVER read.

Here were some of my staple school supplies….


A Protractor: I never fully understood what you really used this damn thing for, but I liked having one because I used to turn it upside down and draw happy faces with teeth, on the inside cover of my composition book while Sister Clare was teaching History (which was a SIN).


A Pink Eraser: This was an item I knew well because I used it constantly to erase all the mistakes I made in MATH. I enjoyed these erasers because of the way they smelled. I loved sniffing them (also a SIN).


A #2 Pencil: God forbid you wrote with anything OTHER than a #2 pencil because it was the only lead that was approved by the Catholic Archdiocese as not being a lead that was potentially SINFUL.


Glue Paste: This was another item I enjoyed smelling. There was nothing quite like the scent of glue paste. It was beyond faaaaaaabulous! Yes, and a couple times I actually TASTED it. One thing I loved doing with glue past was to smear a thin layer on the palm of my hand, wait for it to dry, and then peel it off like skin (big time SIN).


Crayola Crayons: There was nothing more heavenly than getting a fresh box of Crayola Crayons with a built-in sharpener. Crayons were another item I used to love smelling, especially when I first opened the box. I would sit there with my eyes closed in total olfactory rapture; inhaling their intoxicating aroma (SIN).

Well, it’s no wonder I did so poorly in Catholic school, spending every moment sniffing stuff; getting HIGH.

And living a life of SIN.

Okay, so let me see if I can remember my multiplication tables….

1 X 1 = 7
2 X 2 = 40
3 X 2 = 32


Holy OUCH!!!

Wishing you a SINFUL weekend everyone!
X

47 comments:

  1. I was fortunate, Ron, my school was NOT catholic, but I've heard about what goes on in those schools. Nuns seemed to be noted for their cruelty in some places. Anyway, kids shouldn't be 'threatened' by God ... EVER.

    Heehee, I used a protractor to draw shapes... never knew what else to do with one. And rubbers! I kept rubber manufacturers in business for many years ... grins. As for lead pencils, how the heck could lead be sinful?

    I spent a lot of time away from school (hospital) but even when I was there I couldn't seem to get anything right, or learn very much. I began my education after I left. Like you I enjoyed the power of discovery and still do.

    Happy Friday, hope your weekend is all you want it to be x

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  2. Good morning Ronnie,

    What FUN looking at your school class picture!! This is so uncanny because for the last two days, I have been on Ancestry(note: Genealogy website) with records that include school yearbooks. I found my cousin + my cousin's wife in their HS days :). A blast to look at old school pics; huh, something thinks that maybe drawing a devil's heart around your pic might be sin, too (hehe).

    How serious you guys were, in suits and uniform dresses. The dude in row 4, 2nd left forgot his tie and with his black coat cut out as it us, he looks like a priest.

    I was a pure product of the public school system but the school supplies are Soooo familiar, buddy. I hear you talking!! What a treat, the big box of Crayolas with the silver & gold crayons :).

    Happy weekend dear friend. May it be a happy and positive one.
    xoxo

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  3. MWM went to a Catholic school and, whilst he didn't hate it, he despised having religion stuffed down his throat all the time. Every Monday morning the pupils were asked who had not been to church the previous day (Sunday) and those who hadn't been were made to stand up and were ridiculed in in front of their peers. I went to a church school (Church of England) until I was 11 years old but religion came second to learning and we were certainly not forced to go to church for fear of being ridiculed.

    I can remember being very excited when I went to senior school because we had a whole list of 'equipment' we had to have for Maths i.e. compass, protractor, etc. :)

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  4. well i totally agree with this:

    Personally, I don’t feel that teaching education and religion together.

    and i won't even get into it, but how about kids go to school to learn the basics, not that i don't believe in God, i do, but i already have a place of worship and it's not called school. anyhoo...

    looking at those supplies reminds me that my kid has none. ha! they do bring back memories for me though. funny we had to buy that stuff, but i don't personally remember using anything but the darn pencil, which had an eraser. maybe i can't remember that far back.

    have a great weekend, ron. i'll be MIA for a week.

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  5. Oh, this did make me laugh! I also went to a catholic school and if you've ever read some of my 50's posts you will know I got caned more than once for something I didn't do. Our school was full of violence, but not from any pupil. It all came from the teachers.

    You were more fortunate than us. We were not allowed to have rubbers. All corrections had to be seen by the teachers. We had to use pen and ink most of the time (no ball points allowed). We even had to use the same piece of blotting paper until it fell apart! I adored it when I had to have a lovely new piece.

    I so agree with you on the learning everything you know once you left school! The only way I learn is when I investigate things myself.

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  6. Yes, the most valuable lesson of all occur outside the classroom. Life experience is the real teacher and most of it begins after we're out of school and mature enough to comprehend the lessons!

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  7. Goood morning Valerie~

    "... but I've heard about what goes on in those schools. Nuns seemed to be noted for their cruelty in some places. Anyway, kids shouldn't be 'threatened' by God ... EVER."

    I agree. And it's funny because my mother had TWO cousins who became nuns, and even THEY told my mother to send my younger brother to public school rather than Catholic.

    "As for lead pencils, how the heck could lead be sinful?"

    HAHAHAHAHAAHA! Well, that was a SLIGHT exaggeration on my part. But we were forbidden AND reprimanded if we were caught writing with anything other than a #2 pencil. AND they had to be perfectly sharpened - no dull points.

    " I couldn't seem to get anything right, or learn very much. I began my education after I left. Like you I enjoyed the power of discovery and still do."

    I was the same way, Valerie, I couldn't seem to get anything right or even think clearly. Part of it was because they made learning so BORING. Had we had computers back then, I think I would have done better because I just GOOGLE it! HA!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. Happy Friday to ya! Have a terrific weekend!

    X

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  8. Good morning Barb~

    "What FUN looking at your school class picture!!"

    It's funny because I had originally thought of using a different photo for the opening of this post, but just before I published it last night, I decided to use my own Catholic school photo from the 7th grade. Isn't it a HOOT?

    "huh, something thinks that maybe drawing a devil's heart around your pic might be sin, too"

    Bwhahahahahahaha! You are SO right...a BIG TIME SIN!

    "How serious you guys were, in suits and uniform dresses. The dude in row 4, 2nd left forgot his tie and with his black coat cut out as it us, he looks like a priest."

    YES! That's exactly what I thought too...he DOES look like a priest! And I'm surprised he DOES NOT have a tie on because all the boys were required to wear a white shirt and green tie. The girls had to wear a complete uniform in green, with a beanie hat on their head!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, my friend. Have a SUPER weekend!

    Much X to you and D!

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  9. Hey there Pearl~

    "whilst he didn't hate it, he despised having religion stuffed down his throat all the time. Every Monday morning the pupils were asked who had not been to church the previous day (Sunday) and those who hadn't been were made to stand up and were ridiculed in in front of their peers."

    OMG! See! What did I tell ya...it was HORRIBLE! I could share stories that would make your hair curl about the HARSH disciplinary actions that were taken. I was constantly in state of fear.

    "I went to a church school (Church of England) until I was 11 years old but religion came second to learning and we were certainly not forced to go to church for fear of being ridiculed."

    And that's the way it should be. Education and religion should be taught separately.

    "I can remember being very excited when I went to senior school because we had a whole list of 'equipment' we had to have for Maths i.e. compass, protractor, etc. :)"

    Ah, yes...a COMPASS. I totally forgot about those. That's another item I never understood what it was for, but enjoyed making designs with it - HA!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, m'dear! Have a wonderful weekend!

    X

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  10. Hiya Suzi~

    " Life experience is the real teacher and most of it begins after we're out of school and mature enough to comprehend the lessons!"

    Thank you....and AMEN!

    "Life experience is the REAL teacher."

    Thanks for stopping by, Suzi. Have an awesome weekend, dear friend!

    X

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  11. Hey there V Girl~

    "but how about kids go to school to learn the basics, not that i don't believe in God, i do, but i already have a place of worship and it's not called school. anyhoo..."

    You're absolutely right. I think education and religion are two completely different topics; therefore should be taught separately.

    " but i don't personally remember using anything but the darn pencil, which had an eraser."

    Yeah, and I ended up using the ERASER more than I did the pencil - HA!

    Have a terrific weekend, girl. Thanks so much for stopping by!

    " i'll be MIA for a week."

    Okay, I'll see ya when you get back.

    X

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  12. Hey there Babs~

    "I also went to a catholic school and if you've ever read some of my 50's posts you will know I got caned more than once for something I didn't do. Our school was full of violence, but not from any pupil. It all came from the teachers."

    Yes, that is soooooooo true..."but not from any pupil. It all came from the teachers." It was the same in my school. OMG...when I think back on some of the discipline actions that were inflicted upon us, it's nothing short of cruelty.

    "We had to use pen and ink most of the time (no ball points allowed). We even had to use the same piece of blotting paper until it fell apart! I adored it when I had to have a lovely new piece."

    Same here, we had to use pen and ink also. In fact, our desks had an ink well built into them. Later (in my 7th and 8th grades) ball point pens were introduced, but we could only use BLUE ink (never black or red) and it had to be a regular point, not a fine point.

    "I so agree with you on the learning everything you know once you left school! The only way I learn is when I investigate things myself."

    Amen! Through investigation, I learn MORE.

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, Babs. And thanks for sharing your Catholic school stories. Wishing you an awesome weekend!

    X to you and Mo!

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  13. Ron, what an interesting and funny post. I did not go to Catholic school myself but several of my friends did, and heard very similar stories about how strict it was. I agree, I don't feel that religion and education should be taught together.

    Love the photo of your 7th grade class from 1969. I laughed so hard about you tasting the glue paste. And that last image of the nun with the ruler is hysterical.

    Have a wonderful week, Ron.

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  14. Thanks for the walk down memory lane, ron. i got to go to REAL school until i was about 14 when i was so fortunate to be sent to a catholic girls boarding school. at least i wasn't a 'boarder'.... those girls taught me everything i needed to know about getting through life using sex appeal.... quite interesting, the perspective of young teen girls who know too much!!

    thanks for the laughs...i think everyone must love the days of buying new school supplies. my kids loved it and so did i. you must be synesthetic with your love of the smell of things.... i too remember some of what you mentioned, mostly the crayons tho i didn't have a new box! shocking to get to have one of those!! and i remember those stupid nuns and their threats and rulers. being a bit older, we were just as mean. probably the guilt i felt when sister mojo keeled over from a heart attack right in front of us and nobody even prayed, provoked one hail mary but it's doubtful. i think we were just a bit shocked and suspicious she was faking it for attention!! ;)

    have a good one, dear friend. ♥
    linda

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  15. I imagine it's because you are younger than me, that you got to use a ballpoint pen in your later years. We could bring our own fountain pens a bit later, but no ball points.
    I also remember that often kids would stuff blotting paper in the inkwells, causing a whole lot of problems when you dipped your pen into the soggy mess :))

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  16. Ron, what an interesting and funny post. I did not go to Catholic school myself but several of my friends did, and heard very similar stories about how strict it was. I agree, I don't feel that religion and education should be taught together.

    Love the photo of your 7th grade class from 1969. I laughed so hard about you tasting the glue paste. And that last image of the nun with the ruler is hysterical.

    Have a wonderful week, Ron.

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  17. Hola Denise~

    "I did not go to Catholic school myself but several of my friends did, and heard very similar stories about how strict it was."

    Yes...VERY strict. I do know a few people who liked Catholic school, but their are few.

    Glad you enjoyed my 7th grade photo. It's funny because when I was looking over the photo last night, I actually remembered who some of those classmates were because on the back of the photo I wrote all their names - HA!

    Thanks for stopping by, girl. Have a super-duper weekend!

    X

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  18. Helloooooooo Linda~

    " i got to go to REAL school until i was about 14 when i was so fortunate to be sent to a catholic girls boarding school. at least i wasn't a 'boarder'.... those girls taught me everything i needed to know about getting through life using sex appeal.... quite interesting, the perspective of young teen girls who know too much!!"

    So you went to Catholic school AFTER going to public school? WOW...that must have been some change. I laughed at your line about the girls teaching you everything you needed to know about SEX APPEAL! Oh...how funny!

    "you must be synesthetic with your love of the smell of things...."

    Yes....I ADORE smelling things. I smell everything. One of my favorite things to sniff is a new book. Love the smell!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your memories of Catholic school!

    Have a grrrrrreat weekend!

    xoxoxoxo

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  19. "I imagine it's because you are younger than me, that you got to use a ballpoint pen in your later years. We could bring our own fountain pens a bit later, but no ball points."

    Yes, you're right...I hadn't thought about that. When I was in school it was at the tail end of using pen and ink. OMG...fountain pens, I totally forgot about those. You had to buy the separate ink cartridges.

    "I also remember that often kids would stuff blotting paper in the inkwells, causing a whole lot of problems when you dipped your pen into the soggy mess:))"

    Oh...how FUNNY!!! Aren't some kids little devils? Like me - HA!

    X

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  20. Well, as a fellow-catholic school attendee I can vouch for for this post, Ron, 100 %! I only went for 5 years, but it was long enough for me to realize it was not for me.

    "I don’t feel that teaching education and religion together is wise because it confuses a young mind into believing that God only loves you if you know the multiplication tables."

    I have nothing against religion, but it should be separate from education. I too did much better in public school.

    Loved your line about the #2 pencil. Totally hilarious!

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  21. Hey there Matt~

    Yaaaaaaaaaaay another fellow-Catholic school attendee! Only FIVE years?!? You lucky dog you! I had endure THREE more years than you did - HA!

    I agree, I have nothing against religion for people who choose to follow it. But as you shared, I think it should be separate from education too because it confuses a child, and especially if it's taught in relationship to a person's personal relationship with God or a Higher Power.

    "Loved your line about the #2 pencil."

    HA! Do you remember those #2's??? I do!

    Thanks for stopping by, bud. Have a GREAT weekend!

    X

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  22. Oh, my God, Ron, I absolutely LOVE THIS POST! I'm a Catholic school survivor, too, so I felt like you were reading my mind. "I don’t feel that teaching education and religion together is wise because it confuses a young mind into believing that God only loves you if you know the multiplication tables." Brilliant! The nuns brought God into everything--even when you asked permission to go to the bathroom. And what was the deal with the goddamn No. 2 pencil?!? Love the back-to-school products. I never knew what a projector was for either. And I like the compass, too. Thanks so much for writing this post, buddy, have a great weekend, and lay off the Elmer's Glue!!!

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  23. Hiya Rob~

    OMG....I know you're on a blogging break, but I was soooooooo hoping you would read this post because I was sooooooo thinking of you and all your faaaaabulous posts you've shared on going to Catholic school!!!

    "The nuns brought God into everything--even when you asked permission to go to the bathroom."

    Amen! Do you remember how many kids actually peed in their seats because the nuns told them, NO, they could not go to the bathroom because it was good discipline and developed good character to HOLD IT IN!

    "And what was the deal with the goddamn No. 2 pencil?!?"

    And God forbid they caught us writing with a #3 or #4 pencil....WHACK with the ruler!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, buddy. Have an AWESOME weekend!

    X

    P.S. Excuse me now while I go sniff some Elmer's glue :)

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  24. Oh, I'm sooooo grateful I'm nothing even close to Catholic. LOL

    I cannot imagine having to deal with that SIN deal.
    I mean, you got enough of that from organized religion, once upon a time--fire, brimstone and all that..... I'm grateful for how that's evolved, truth be told. I'm hopeful that's the case for religion owned education facilities. Oh, please let that be true!

    I carried good grades in school......not sure how that was given my 'extra curricular activities', but I have the GPA on record and I apparently managed okay academically. It was the social aspect that I failed miserably at--and paid dearly for. And that was back in the days when the 'board of education' really WAS a board! No foolin'....oak I think......

    Every year I get the joy of purchasing school supplies for the young ladies I get to work with. I love it! Folders and notebooks and mechanical pencils.......cool erasers, spongey grippy thingies for pencils, coloured pencils, HIGHLIGHTERS in nifty shapes, calculators......ohhhhhhh.......and the PENS! HOLY cow....they're AWESOME!! And crayons that twist up and down--very cool.
    Oh--and how awesome are the pen/pencil holders now a days!!
    They're not just some plastic looking sleeve whose zipper is going to break after the first week.....LOL

    Gotta tell ya--It's one of my funnest activities to do, going out to get school supplies! I remember going to school and envying the kiddos who showed up with all the cool stuff--while I showed up with whatever I could scrounge up. Making sure that doesn't happen for those kids--is a pure joy.
    Oh--and I get to keep some for the staff!! LOL I always get an excess cuz new and fun is NEW and FUN--no matter the age!

    ;-) That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

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  25. Hiya Mel~

    "I cannot imagine having to deal with that SIN deal."

    OMG....EVERYTHING was a SIN - HA!

    "I'm grateful for how that's evolved, truth be told. I'm hopeful that's the case for religion owned education facilities. Oh, please let that be true!"

    I don't think it's as bad now. I use to volunteer with a group of Catholic school nuns at spiritual center here in Philadelphia several years ago, and even THEY cringed at how Catholic schools were run back then. They were honest in saying that it was like BOOT CAMP in the Army - HA!

    "I carried good grades in school......not sure how that was given my 'extra curricular activities', but I have the GPA on record and I apparently managed okay academically."

    You GO, Mel!!!

    I didn't do well either academically or socially. It wasn't until I transferred into public school (my junior and senior years) did I begin to blossom into my own.

    "and how awesome are the pen/pencil holders now a days!!
    They're not just some plastic looking sleeve whose zipper is going to break after the first week.....LOL"

    HA! I agree, the pen/pencil holders back then were just some flimsy case that either tore or the zipper broke. And it's funny you mentioned pencil case holders because I tried finding a photo of an old one to add to my list here, but couldn't find one.

    "Making sure that doesn't happen for those kids--is a pure joy.
    Oh--and I get to keep some for the staff!! LOL I always get an excess cuz new and fun is NEW and FUN--no matter the age!"

    Aw! And you are so right, it's new and fun, no matter the age!

    I bet those kids LOVE having you around!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, dear lady. Hope you're enjoying a great weekend!

    X

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  26. I didn't go to a Catholic school, Ron, and that was probably a good thing, because I too LOVE school supplies therefore would have been considered a big time SINNER!


    The smell of Elmer's paste, markers and crayons are like incense to me, plus I'm a mechanical pencil kind of gal, so there’s probably a big ass chair with my name etched on it in HELL!


    You cracked me up with the protractor! I had no idea they weren’t solely for smiley faces! WTH? I thought nuns wanted us to spread love and happiness! Maybe THEY should start sniffing some paste and crayons!


    Have a fantabulous weekend!


    ((YOU))

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  27. Good heavens, that was a big class! I'm sorry it was such terror and SIN for you, Ron! Lol......I was one of those weirdos who loved school. Better than being at home, that's all I'll say....

    Loved the supply shopping too. A new box of crayons was sheer pleasure. We didn't have book bags where I lived. Never even heard of them till college! We had school boxes made of cardboard and carried our books and papers by hand.....awkward!

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  28. Helloooooooo Pam~

    "The smell of Elmer's paste, markers and crayons are like incense to me, plus I'm a mechanical pencil kind of gal, so there’s probably a big ass chair with my name etched on it in HELL!"

    Listen, if I get there before you, I'll save you a seat!

    Bwhahahahahahahaha!

    "....are like incense"

    I AGREE!!!! LOVE the smell of those things! I actually have a black magic marker in my computer that I sniff occasionally.

    *wink*

    "Maybe THEY should start sniffing some paste and crayons!"

    Amen!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, Pam. Have a fantabulous weekend!

    (((( You ))))

    X

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  29. Hey there Bijoux~

    "Good heavens, that was a big class!"

    OMG...thank you for noticing that! In Catholic schools the classes were HUGE. One year I had 72 kids in my class!

    "I was one of those weirdos who loved school. Better than being at home, that's all I'll say...."

    And I bet you were a GREAT student!

    "We didn't have book bags where I lived. Never even heard of them till college! We had school boxes made of cardboard and carried our books and papers by hand.....awkward!"

    Wow...I've never heard of a school box?!?! Yes, it does sound awkward.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're enjoying a faaaaabulous weekend!

    X

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  30. That last image and caption of the nun with the ruler rocks, Ron! How funny!

    The more I hear about Catholic school, the more happy I am that I didn't go. In my family all my cousins went to Catholic school, but my parents sent my brother, sister, and I to public. We did however, take catechism class, but it was separate from school.

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  31. Howdy Robert~

    I couldn't resist sharing that last image - HA!

    "In my family all my cousins went to Catholic school, but my parents sent my brother, sister, and I to public. We did however, take catechism class, but it was separate from school."

    Lucky you! My older brother, sister, and I all went to Catholic school. However, by the time my younger brother came along, he was sent to public. When we moved to Florida, he went to private school.

    Yes, I know a lot of kids who went to public school, but then attended catechism classes separate for their religion.

    Always great seeing ya, bud. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having a super weekend!

    X

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  32. school supplies definitely whisk us right back to childhood. Your stories are wickedly funny, but I know what you mean. Kids seem to pay attention to the littlest details. I remember the smells of library books, lockers and my lunchbox. Writing notes to my friends and folding them up some clever way. Lining up in two rows, boys and girls, to go to music class, recess and lunch. The sound of the classroom clock ticking, the pleasant chore of making paper jackets for our textbooks, and the adrenaline rush at the end of the first day of school, running down the breezeway to locate the correct school bus. Thanks so much for the memories, Ron :) xoxo

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  33. Hey there Diane~

    "the pleasant chore of making paper jackets for our textbooks"

    OMG...yes! yes! yes! I totally forgot about those! We use to make ours out of used grocery store shopping bags!

    "the pleasant chore of making paper jackets for our textbooks"

    HA! Yeah, I use to fold (squeeze) mine inside a Bic pen and then pass it to my friend sitting next to me so it looked as though I was just lending him a PEN. Clever, hu? tee, hee!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing in the school memories, girl! Hope you're having a faaaabulous weekend!

    Much X to you and Cristybella!

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  34. Oh man, I had the same thing for new school supplies. There's just something about the smell of an office supply store that I always liked. Kinda like the smell of a new car.

    Oh, and as for the Elmer's glue, as a kid I used to put it on my hand, wait for it to dry, then peel it off like skin. Yeah, I was a weird kid...

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  35. Howdy Herman~

    Yahoooo....glad to here that you had the same thing for NEW school supplies! Weren't they the BOMB?

    " Kinda like the smell of a new car."

    You said it, buddy! Nothing like it. When I still owned a car, I used to buy that car fresh stuff you could spray inside that smelled exactly like a NEW car!

    "as a kid I used to put it on my hand, wait for it to dry, then peel it off like skin. Yeah, I was a weird kid..."

    You too? Nah, we weren't weird, we were just CREATIVE - HA!

    Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Hope you had a super weekend!

    X to you, Karin, and Mr. Tyler!

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  36. Do nuns really rap your knuckles with wooden rulers? I've always had it in my head that this occurs, but assumed it was just a stereotype. After all, how can God's minions be anything but sweet and caring souls who treat the children they look after as tender flock of sheep?

    Have you stopped laughing yet??

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  37. Howdy Mark~

    "Do nuns really rap your knuckles with wooden rulers? I've always had it in my head that this occurs, but assumed it was just a stereotype."

    I don't know how they are now but, yup....when I was a kid....WHACK! And not only did they use wooden rulers, but also those triangular metal rulers...OUCH!

    "After all, how can God's minions be anything but sweet and caring souls who treat the children they look after as tender flock of sheep?"

    Bwhahahahahhahahahahaha!

    CRACKED ME UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Thanks for stopping by, buddy! Hope you had a faaaaabulous weekend!

    X to you and Tara!

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  38. Very funny. You probably know my kids all go to Catholic school! It's my own revenge for having done it myself. Honestly, things have changed a LOT. And our public schools? They would be DEAD by now - they bus our neighborhood 30 mins away to the WORST part of town... public school is NOT an option. I tell you what though... if one of the nuns EVER put a hand on MY kids?! MAMA BEAR WOULD COME OUT WITH HER CLAWS! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! Oh, your math skillz. Just about as good as mine. LOL!

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  39. Hey there Katherine~

    "You probably know my kids all go to Catholic school! It's my own revenge for having done it myself."

    HAHHAHAHAHAHA! You GO, girl!

    "And our public schools? They would be DEAD by now - they bus our neighborhood 30 mins away to the WORST part of town... public school is NOT an option."

    I know, because that's how the public schools are here in Philly too. OMG...it's like taking your life in your hands!

    "I tell you what though... if one of the nuns EVER put a hand on MY kids?! MAMA BEAR WOULD COME OUT WITH HER CLAWS! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!"

    Hell, my mother used to TELL the nuns to crack my knuckles if I needed it, therefore I was like a punching bag!

    "Oh, your math skillz. Just about as good as mine."

    HA! I think the ONLY thing I learned in math was how to balance a check book, that's it.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend, and sharing your Catholic school stories. Hope you had great weekend!

    X

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  40. Hahaha! Love that last bit!

    Such a shame that your school years were made hideous in this way, Ron. It's hard to understand the reasoning behind it, but I can well believe that a young mind would come to the conclusion that not knowing your multiplication tables resulted in God not loving you. Poor little 'Ronnie'.

    Mainstream, formal education didn't work for me, either, or OH. One of our sons did well (gaining lots of qualifications at school and then an honours degree at university) but the other was more like a mix of OH and I and did not do well at all. He left as soon as he possibly could, just as I did. OH stuck it out and did A levels, but to be honest, did most of his learning after school.

    The irony is, that though I loathed school (apart from the social aspect) I LOVE to learn. Since leaving school, I have spent an awful lot of years learning - I can't go long without dedicating myself to learning something. First I got a job with a day release college course, which I sailed through - because it was interesting and relevant - and since then I've done Open University, evening classes, photography classes, learned to write, make jewellery, draw, and do a whole host of crafts. I've attempted to learn several musical instruments, too, and then finally took up Italian at my advanced age. And I sometimes wonder how it is that schools fail so spectacularly to teach languages when it's fascinating, absorbing, and FUN!

    And my school didn't even HAVE any nuns!

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  41. Hiya Jay~

    "Such a shame that your school years were made hideous in this way, Ron. It's hard to understand the reasoning behind it, but I can well believe that a young mind would come to the conclusion that not knowing your multiplication tables resulted in God not loving you."

    Yes, it is a shame that when I was a kid and went to Catholic school...that's what they taught.

    Oh well...at least it has given me some blog fodder - HA!

    "Mainstream, formal education didn't work for me, either, or OH. One of our sons did well (gaining lots of qualifications at school and then an honours degree at university) but the other was more like a mix of OH and I and did not do well at all. He left as soon as he possibly could, just as I did. OH stuck it out and did A levels, but to be honest, did most of his learning after school."

    It's funny how different people learn different ways. For some, formal education is wonderful. Yet, for me I learn better when I can investigate knowledge on my own, makes mistakes, and then learn from them.

    "The irony is, that though I loathed school (apart from the social aspect) I LOVE to learn. Since leaving school, I have spent an awful lot of years learning - I can't go long without dedicating myself to learning something."

    HA! It must be a 'Libra thing' because I'm the SAME WAY! I LOVE to learn.

    "and since then I've done Open University, evening classes, photography classes, learned to write, make jewellery, draw, and do a whole host of crafts. I've attempted to learn several musical instruments, too, and then finally took up Italian at my advanced age."

    You GO, girl! I admire you for that!

    " And I sometimes wonder how it is that schools fail so spectacularly to teach languages when it's fascinating, absorbing, and FUN!"

    I think it's because they don't know HOW to make it interesting, fascinating, absorbing, and fun.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing on this post, my friend. Thoroughly enjoyed!

    Have a SUPER week!

    X

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  42. Too funny! I've heard all the stories of Catholic school back in the day. Sometimes I do wonder if kids today would be better off if they got their knuckles cracked at least once in a blue moon. Discipline in moderation is a good thing.
    I too loved getting new school supplies. I still get a little thrill when I pick up a pack of new pens at Target. I have to be careful going into the stationery supply aisle otherwise I'll get a bunch of crap I don't need.

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  43. Hiya Jen~

    "Sometimes I do wonder if kids today would be better off if they got their knuckles cracked at least once in a blue moon. Discipline in moderation is a good thing."

    HA! Agreed!

    "I still get a little thrill when I pick up a pack of new pens at Target. I have to be careful going into the stationery supply aisle otherwise I'll get a bunch of crap I don't need."

    Isn't it hilarious how when you go into a Target, you end up coming out with things you didn't even PLAN on purchasing? I can spend HOURS in Target!

    Thanks for stopping by, my friend!

    X

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  44. I am so glad I never had to attend Catholic school!

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  45. You are soooooooooooooooooo lucky!

    X

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  46. My mother was Catholic and went to Catholic school. Thank goodness she didn't force me and my sister to go. She would have done okay, but I'd have probably rebelled very early and been thrown OUT! LOL
    I actually always liked school. I did well (until I took College Biology in HS ... FAIL!) and I used to love to 'play' school at home with my dolls. They'de be all lined up with little pieces of scrap paper and pencils in front of them! Eventually, I got a chalkboard, a desk filled with supplies and so enjoyed pretending for hours that I was a teacher.

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  47. Helloooooooooooo Mary~

    " Thank goodness she didn't force me and my sister to go. She would have done okay, but I'd have probably rebelled very early and been thrown OUT! LOL "

    Oh, you are SOOOOOOOOOOO lucky you didn't go to Catholic school. Apparently, now, it's not like it use to be when I was a kid, due to the fact that nuns are not really teaching in school anymore.

    "Eventually, I got a chalkboard, a desk filled with supplies and so enjoyed pretending for hours that I was a teacher."

    OMG...how HILARIOUS because I got chalkboard too when I was a kid and played "school" with my younger brother! I ALWAYS played the teacher and would send him home with notes to my mother that he was BAD student.

    It was my revenge for all the notes that "I" got sent home with!!!

    Bwhahahahhahahaahaha!

    Aren't I wicked?

    X

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