School days were fool days in many ways
I was brought up in a sheltered world
Reading and writing was not something I learnt at home
But its mysteries taught to me in school.
A school beset with its own odd culture
Of nuns who ruled the universe in my reckoning
Strange women wrapped in black habits
Their faces and hands all we ever saw.
Women whom to us lacked compassion
Were mean and hard with no sense of humour
Who were quick to flog you for any indiscretion.
Only Sister Annunciata in Year Six
Resembled a human being.
In Year Five Mother DePaul a sad old cranky woman
Would belt you if you couldn’t answer a question.
The class kept tally of who received the most.
I would defy her written orders to
‘COME TO ME’.
Schools were factories, in one end and spat out the other
That real learning occurred was accidental I think.
The naturally smart did well
The rest of us laboured through maths
Wrote awkwardly, spelt terribly,
But we knew our times tables
Recite our catechism
And attend Mass for fear of mortal sin.
It was a time when anxiety ruled our world,
Nuns with big sticks had wicked tongues,
Where one size was made to fit all.
I spent twelve years in school,
In hindsight not so enjoyable,
Then forty-three more enjoyable years
On the other side trying to leave
My impressionable charges
With some good memory.
My life has been spent in classrooms.
Is it any wonder I don’t miss it
At all?
Written for: http://pookypoetry.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/poetry-prompt-16-school-days/
Morpethroad 
I like the idea of schools being factories – an accurate description of how it felt.
For me Charlie that’s how it looks when I think back on it. Thanks so much for your comment.
shame that nuns were so often so cruel. I wonder what the man they supposedly follow so closely would think about their behaviour. Not at all “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them……” Their behaviour is a kind of hindrance as well as it probably stopped many of the kids as adults to experience a life enforcing spirituality
Thank you Bee, that’s a great comment. What I am aware of is that I am sure my teachers all thought they were doing a fair job, they just weren’t always very smart at it, they tended to go through the motions. Thankfully I was motivated to learn by myself.
I agree that is the problem in most cases. They believe it is for the best and it is hard for them to understand that it might have a total different effect on the children in their care.
I grew up in Germany and was in a state school so I never experienced that kind of school environment. I loved school having a hard time at home and I loved to learn. Especially English which helped me a lot to settle in Great Britain.
Even though there have been some kids who just needed to wind me up because I have red hair. Luckily my mother had too and she said to me:” Soon they all dye their hair your colour and you can safe that money!” :-). Hope you have a lovely weekend ~ Bee
Thanks Bee, funny what our mothers said to us isn’t it. If I was feeling unwell and didn’t want to go to school she would say ‘ you’ll be right once you get going’. I hated hearing that as I knew she would be right, and she always was. You have a good day too.
🙂 exactly. I hated it as well as my class mates could be quite mean but it somehow helped too….
The best thing about schools (and I changed quite a few of them across countries) were the friends I made. A couple of teachers that I’m still friends with now, and a few dear friends scattered across the globe. That’s the legacy of school. It sounds, however, like your memories were much more negative.
Sadly my teachers were not the sort to forge any relationship with. In high school I played some sport with a few but I did make friends one of who I had dinner with this week. I think that having been a teacher I saw the flaws in my own education, but I do know many of my teachers did the best they could.
School was basically my one constant growing up, so even if I changed schools and class-mates quite a lot it was still kind of a safe haven for me. It was the one thing I could rely on to be there without rules changing on me. I was good in school, studied well and was friendly with the teachers. Which of course didn’t really make me popular with my class-mates… Anyhow, enough nostalgia, what I wanted to say was regardless of everything else I believe in the value of a good teacher. That is what your piece made me think about.
Thanks CC, a good teacher is who you remember, their impact on you lasts lifelong. I am happy my poem gave something to think about.
Oh Michael, what a wonderful memory of school days with the nuns! Many from “back then” will relate. Nowadays things have changed–even when they wear traditional habits they can be found outside running the bases with the kids at recess. Lol. I enjoyed this a lot! (Oh, and my daughters teacher, Sister Carol Marie dressed like a giant pumpkin at halloween 🙂 )
Thanks Mandy I know a lot has changed and that is good. Thankfully their lives are not as regimented as they once were.
Ah, school, not a whole lot of good memories for me either I’m afraid. But Michael, now you are retired from school and can do as you please. That has to be a great feeling! No more school! Except for the school of life and that one can me fabulous.
supposed to be “be” instead of “me fabulous” LOL
Yes I am discovering the school of life Jackie and you are correct it is fabulous, all day every day.
What a sad tale and how horrific the conditions that some kids had to endure. Thankfully, that is all behind you and you taught how teachers should have taught. My school days are a bit of a blur, possibly a good thing 😉
Thank you Jenny, I did correct my vision of teachers. I would have thought the less about your school days the better?
cheeky boy. 🙂 I was a bit of a handful…I think *winks*
So I believe. Glad you weren’t in my class.
hee hee what fun I would have had, if I were *nyuk nyuk nyuk*
I think young Jennifer would have given me a headache.
hmmm I am sure she would have too 😉
Especially as I am old and crotchety
true….
Do you really not miss it?
I’m sure your students have far happier memories x
I miss them it’s the institution I don’t miss.
That makes sense. I can understand that completely.
I remember liking school. I wasn’t too fond of the social experiences – especially in HS. I was an awkward teenager. If only I had an older sibling to help lead the way. Looking back – I managed pretty ok on my own – I think.
I can appreciate your comment RoSy. I had an older brother five years older than me so I was at school pretty much on my own. It was the learning I liked, not the place.