Days of Old
by Marguerite
Norgren
President Bush has declared today, September 14, 2001, a “National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.” Here we are gathered together, the 4th Grade of St. Augustine’s School and the Golden Eagles, to share “Days of Old.”
It was a privilege for me to be a member of the graduating Class of 1941. We were taught by the Sisters of Charity and were the last class to graduate under them. In September 1941, the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary’s of the Springs arrived. Sr. Mary Elizabeth is continuing their long tradition of providing a first class education for you.
I was in the 4th Grade at St. Augustine’s in 1937, 64 years ago. I wonder if any of you can tell me of ways that the 4th Grade might be different now.
When I was here:
- - All the teachers were nuns, like Sister Mary Elizabeth. They were very strict disciplinarians.
- We did not wear uniforms.
- There were no school buses. We all walked to school. At the end of the day we walked home.
- We brought our lunch to school.
How are things different today?
I called some of my classmates and friends to obtain their ideas on the 4th Grade and here is what they suggested I share with you:
Barbara (Clifford) Lynch, 4th Grade in 1937, recalls the very strict discipline at St. Augustine’s that she said has helped her all through life. She commented on how everybody walked to school. Everybody carried their lunch in little brown bags. Students had to cross the street, as St. Augustine’s was located on Route 9 where Cablevision is presently located. She recalls that one of the first instructions we received was to greet the policeman stationed at the crossing with “Good Morning, Officer. Thank you, Officer.” She spoke of the silence that had to be observed in the hallways and in the lunchroom. She mentioned Sr. Kathleen, in particular, who would say “I want to be able to hear a pin drop. Please observe silence.” Barbara, mother of 3, went on to be Elementary School Administrator in the East Ramapo School District. She is now retired in Florida. It was her idea to give you American flags, stickers, and lollypops.
Mary (last name not revealed) in the 4th Grade at St. Augustine’s in 1938, recalls how two grades had to share the same room and the same teacher: 1st and 2nd Grades, 3rd and 4th, etc. She too recalls the discipline. Lunch had to be eaten in silence. No talking. We were then allowed to play on the hill, which subsequently became a housing development. She also recalls how important it was to cover our books with brown paper. We were issued very old, very precious books. We had to take very good care of them. They were on loan and had to be returned in June.
Marilyn (Trulio) Golden in the 4th Grade at St. Augustine’s in 1948. The “Sunset Club” is what she remembers. It was an after school program that she was forced to take because she was left-handed. All the left-handed children had to take a penmanship course stressing writing in the Palmer method with their right hand. She also mentioned that she did not have gym or physical education. Exercise was simply by opening the window and taking a deep breath. Marilyn, mother of 3, is Director of Volunteers at Phelps Hospital. She wanted very much to be here today to speak with you personally, but her dedication to volunteering has priority. She sends her love with one suggestion: Study hard!
Margaret (Kelly) Daly was in the 4th Grade in 1939. She went to public school in England during World War II. She attended a very simple 2-room schoolhouse in Oxfordshire, about 65 miles from London. She commented on how they started and ended each day with a hymn and prayer. Instruction was by blackboard and very carefully taken notes. They were never allowed to take books home. They had to do mental arithmetic. They had to write many essays and compositions. The teacher dictated paragraphs and students wrote them down, after which the teacher graded their notes on spelling and punctuation. Today, Margaret, mother of 6, is retired on Cape Cod and owns and operates a tearoom in her home, where she serves tea, scones, cucumber sandwiches, and all kinds of sweets.
Can you guess what my recollection of St. Augustine School is? My brother was in the Navy in the 1940’s. In his first “Dear Mom” letter, he thanked her for the discipline he received in school and at home. Some of his buddies were not able to handle the Navy discipline because they never had it before. Have you been sent over to the rectory to be put on the “spanking machine”? You must be behaving pretty well or you would know about it. [Of course there really was no such thing, but the Sisters constantly threatened us with it.] Peace be with you. See you in church.
Marguerite Norgren
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