THE FACULTY

  It isn't controversial for anyone to be pro teacher. But for the record,I am four scare,absolutely second to none in my admiration for the women and men of this noble profession. Even more so for the teachers working in catholic schools where they earn less than their public school counterparts.

   From Arquila to Zameitis I remember those who gave me my grammar school education with fondness. And this wasn't my only interactions with teachers. Remember I later became an employee and a volunteer and even taught for a couple of months. That's all for later. 

  

  I already mentioned Sister Clarelle who ushered me into my catholic education and I regret I cannot remember all the names of the wonderful faculty of that day to distribute the credit they deserve.

  One of the nuns whose name I cannot remember , was an avid " Peanuts" (Charlie Brown variety) fan. She was not our home room teacher, but I remember wishing that she were. She had a wonderful collection of "Peanuts" merch and became my introduction to the genius of Charles Schulz whose work I like and admire to this day. She had the humor and good cheer that you'd expect from someone who enjoyed the wit of Schulz and she gave me that same appreciation. I still read that comic strip daily.

   

  My first lay teacher may have been Miss Carsello. She was a young  blonde and wore glasses. Culture shock to see someone with arms,legs and feet at the front of the room after a steady diet of the sinister black adornments worn by the nuns.  Miss Carsello  possessed a biting sense of humor. I recall her having names for some of us other than our own. Unusual nicknames reflective of our behavior. And one of Miss Carsello's punishments,which today might cause a litigious parent to sue, involved the student offender being required to wear a baby bonnet.  

   Now,I was,throughout my student tenure, a pretty well behaved kid. That's not to say I never did anything wrong but I wasn't a frequent offender . There were some in that class who modeled that bonnet almost daily.  

    It was getting late in the school year and I was one of the few who never had the dubious honor of wearing the bonnet. 

I am pretty sure Miss Carsello, who had married over the school year and now was  Mrs.Arquilla, knew I had yet to receive this punishment. I say that because as I remember it, I was singled out for a minor infraction (the equivalent of getting a ticket for littering) and provided laughter for my classmates as I put on the baby bonnet for the rest of the day. I bet no one misses the days when being humiliated was the consrquence for whispering in class.

   The time I made the class laugh minus a prop was when my classmate Diane W. was standing in the row next to my desk and was describing what I think was a fish. She extended both her arms to indicate the  length of the fish and I was seated close enough to her to move my head out of the way of her outstretched arm and the class laughed. I didnt do much, but they  laughed. Something might have clicked on with me in that moment because I still remember it as if it were yesterday and I have been trying to make people laugh ever since. With that simple motion,Diane W. ,you created a monster!😁😉

   Somewhere along the education way the school started dividing students into groups. There was group one made up of the students who were doing superior work,Group 2- the average students and Group 3 which came to be known as "the dumb kids". In actuality,these were the students that were struggling scholastically or had learning disabities and or behavior problems. You did not want to be in group three. I think I was in Group 3 a total of one time due to a  slump in my studies . My time in that group wasn't lengthy but as you can imagine,given the nature of dividing kids up by performance made an already judgemental age even more of a struggle. I found a cozy little niche in Group 2 and thats the group where I spent most of my school days during that period.  That group thing was never a good idea in my opinion. At an age where kids are struggling to fit in or find their identity, groups considered smart,average and dumb is of little help.

    Throughout my grammar school years the principal of St.Willam was a veteran of the student-teacher wars,Sister Paschaletta. She was principal for years by the time I enrolled and as I recall, retired when i hit the upper grades for a younger and more gentle leader in Sister Eloise. More on her later.

     I was fortunate enough not to get to know the furnishings inside the principal's office but we all had a healthy respect (and fear) of Sister Paschalleta. 

     The one interaction I had with her still puzzles me today. 

       Sister was filling in for an absent teacher. One of our assignments had been to draw the tail of any animal we chose. And yes,that still seems a little odd. Anyway,I drew a horse's tail and couldn't resist adding a little humor to it. I added a little bug to the tail and labelled it "Seymour The Flea." 

     A day or so later as we ascended the steps to the top floor classroom,Sister Paschaletta intercepted me to ask about my addition of "Seymour" to my artistry. I was surprised about her serious interest and I forget how I responded but I'm sure I said I just meant it as a joke. And that was that.

    Did Sister think I had an invisible friend? Did she think Seymour might be  a well known character she didn't know about? I will never know but I will always wonder.

    I believe Sister Lucy was my 6th or 7th grade nun and she was the General Patton of the convent. She was a sturdy woman who gave no quarter and adhered to the most strict aspects of our faith snd behavior. She promised heavenly retribution for our earthly transgressions and was of little patience. She referred to the popular rock and roll of the day as "african jungle music" so you can draw your conclusions from there. 

   Eighth grade deserves a column all its own so that's where I'll pick up next time.