It’s fitting that she was the first (and so far only) Sister that I discovered here on this website. We all have our favorites, and I am no exception: my fourth grade teacher, Sister Marie Stella was ‘old’ to my young eyes, but there was something about her manner – a little more matter-of-fact, perhaps, but still emanating a gentle and kind disposition – that I really liked and remember fondly. I know this was a gentle intervention, since I was the recipient of at least one such ‘reminder’ to attend to my work. ![]() ![]() She would glide up silently from behind, undetected by the misbehaving young man, and apply ( very gently ) the ‘Vulcan Nerve Pinch’ at the side of the neck and shoulder. She was the only Sister who would ‘lay hands’ on the students – almost always boys of 12 or 13. Until now! Sister Mary Brian, if your still with us: Red-headed David Viens says: “Sorry, Sister!”Įight grade was Sister Valencia, the school principal and Mother Superior of the convent. I actually tried, years ago when the internet was new, to locate her to apologize, but I was unsuccessful. Sister Mary Brian had reached the end of her rope, and I added to her burden, for which I am still sorry. I was ‘sewing my fingers together’ in pantomime when everyone was told to put their books away and sit totally quiet at their desks. Kids at that age present a challenge in small groups to have to herd fifty hormonal adolescents through a school year is beyond anything I would ever want to do! I was told to leave the classroom on one particularly bad day, right before lunch. Seventh grade was Sister Mary Brian, who was young, vivacious and hopelessly overworked. Joseph Ann had a real gift of dealing with people in a special way that made them special. Watters was getting pretty old…) and the sixth grade was taught by a universal favorite, Sister Joseph Ann. Third and fifth grade were lay teachers, Mrs. Joseph Missal, and Sister (M.) Paul Joseph, with wonderful memories of an especially kind and gentle teacher, one whom my mother especially liked. Second Grade brought First Communion, a really nice black St. I don’t have too many specific memories of that year, but I certainly have no bad ones. Sister Anne Gillette was my first grade teacher. Alphonsus, my interactions with the Sisters was positive (well, mostly). That is a testament to the kind of wonderful people the Sisters were, and the philosophy and approach my school took towards teaching and managing the kids.įrom Day One ( I was crying ) of going to St. Not once, in eight years of going to class every day did I ever witness a Sister, or any lay teacher, apply that kind of ‘discipline.’ Not ever. In an age where Sisters at Catholic schools had a reputation for arbitrary application of corporal punishment with rulers and pointers, I can tell you: There was none of that in my school. I can only imagine the handful Sister Mary Brian had to deal with. In my school, there were always 50 kids to a class with one Sister trying her best to teach and manage the ‘crowd.’ By the time I got into seventh grade, there was a gender disparity in my class – 35 girls and 15 boys. As an adult looking back, I know now that they were all kind and gentle souls, tasked with an enormous job, and no doubt were confronted with great challenges. Memory: I attended ‘St.Al’s’ from 1960 until 1968, and I must start this by complimenting every single Sister that I ever knew while I was in school.
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