Gosh, such harsh, harsh teachers, apart from Cora Norrin! I think it's no coincidence that Katy recalled so many decades later her favourite teacher's FULL name - the cruel ones were only 'Mr Doyle' and 'Miss Makins', which I find really interesting.
I'm ashamed to admit that although I'm not a native speaker, I resort to swearing very loudly in German when I'm extremely cross, so as not to upset my neighbours with my bad language!
Such a great post, Sharron - I really enjoyed reading it.
What a difference three years and moving away from home made for this lovely young girl and woman. My Mother's family came from Germany, as well, but they relocated in Indiana.
Katy could have written quite a novel, based on her experiences. So glad you are sharing her story.
My husband is German. He often tells the story of his grandfather, who loved to farm and also loved to eat garlic. Sunday church services always provided him with a pew that was slightly away from anyone else. I think we know why!
Your stories create enormous empathy for your mother. The power of that empathy gives your stories universal appeal for readers who are not in your family circle. When I read this Saturday morning's installment about your mother's elementary school experience, I was so sad and angry about the bullying from sadistic teachers and students and neglect shown by her parents, and so grateful that at least one teacher showed your mother some kindness and fed the spark of the beautiful person she was inside. Your biography has such power because it makes us all care about what happens to your mother and root for her courageous soul.
Wow, what a story of her years in her local community schools. In some ways, not much changed when I was in school in the 1960s, as I was raised in grades K-3 in another country and can remember similar prejudice....Her story on the troubling 7th-8th grade boys problem continues even now, which is sadly why so many were placed on medication during my daughters' childhood school years. But overall, of course, she had a very, very tough childhood, which later in life she overcame and raised you so well - that we are grateful for her life story!
What a history and relatively not that long ago. Thank you for telling her story. When we kids were young and said we were bored, my grandmother had a German saying that translated to stand on your head and catch flies with your ass.
Otherwise she and my mother would converse in German when they did not want us to know what they were talking about.
I have records that date back to the mid 1700s. They lived in Meisenbach, and one lived in Welsebach Rhein, Baiern Germany. They migrated to the US in 1837 and eventually settled in Indiana around Ft. Wayne. For a while I was really interested in genealogy but got away from it . . .maybe a project for the future.
In the early 1950s teachers were still allowed to hit us if we got lessons wrong. That scarred my math ever since. It takes absolute silence and all day determination to keep the check book and pay bills. I keep meticulous receipts to run my business. I've erased her name from my memory and smile every once in a while to think that she was a lot older than I am, so probably dead by now ... she can't hit any more kids. What a sad life for her. My house is wall to wall books with some starting to stack on the floors. She didn't slow me down learning at all... except for the numbers part. Alchemy works for those most of the time. Straight cut hair seems to have been popular in Katy's time, so can't tell why the other kids were so mean about it. I always sat in front row first seat, so I could see the board. No temptation to goof off either. I was born 6ft tall, so clothes never meant much to me. If they fit they were worn. end of story. Still don't care much. Still 6 ft tall hahahaha.
I’m really enjoying these pieces, Sharron. These snippets into your mother’s life continue to amaze me. Also, I can’t help but compare what schools are like now versus then...what horrible treatment those students received! I’m thankful at least one of the teachers was kind to your mother.
Gosh, such harsh, harsh teachers, apart from Cora Norrin! I think it's no coincidence that Katy recalled so many decades later her favourite teacher's FULL name - the cruel ones were only 'Mr Doyle' and 'Miss Makins', which I find really interesting.
I'm ashamed to admit that although I'm not a native speaker, I resort to swearing very loudly in German when I'm extremely cross, so as not to upset my neighbours with my bad language!
Such a great post, Sharron - I really enjoyed reading it.
What a difference three years and moving away from home made for this lovely young girl and woman. My Mother's family came from Germany, as well, but they relocated in Indiana.
Katy could have written quite a novel, based on her experiences. So glad you are sharing her story.
My husband is German. He often tells the story of his grandfather, who loved to farm and also loved to eat garlic. Sunday church services always provided him with a pew that was slightly away from anyone else. I think we know why!
Your stories create enormous empathy for your mother. The power of that empathy gives your stories universal appeal for readers who are not in your family circle. When I read this Saturday morning's installment about your mother's elementary school experience, I was so sad and angry about the bullying from sadistic teachers and students and neglect shown by her parents, and so grateful that at least one teacher showed your mother some kindness and fed the spark of the beautiful person she was inside. Your biography has such power because it makes us all care about what happens to your mother and root for her courageous soul.
Wow, what a story of her years in her local community schools. In some ways, not much changed when I was in school in the 1960s, as I was raised in grades K-3 in another country and can remember similar prejudice....Her story on the troubling 7th-8th grade boys problem continues even now, which is sadly why so many were placed on medication during my daughters' childhood school years. But overall, of course, she had a very, very tough childhood, which later in life she overcame and raised you so well - that we are grateful for her life story!
So interesting. I really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to you and your Mom for sharing.
What a history and relatively not that long ago. Thank you for telling her story. When we kids were young and said we were bored, my grandmother had a German saying that translated to stand on your head and catch flies with your ass.
Otherwise she and my mother would converse in German when they did not want us to know what they were talking about.
I have records that date back to the mid 1700s. They lived in Meisenbach, and one lived in Welsebach Rhein, Baiern Germany. They migrated to the US in 1837 and eventually settled in Indiana around Ft. Wayne. For a while I was really interested in genealogy but got away from it . . .maybe a project for the future.
In the early 1950s teachers were still allowed to hit us if we got lessons wrong. That scarred my math ever since. It takes absolute silence and all day determination to keep the check book and pay bills. I keep meticulous receipts to run my business. I've erased her name from my memory and smile every once in a while to think that she was a lot older than I am, so probably dead by now ... she can't hit any more kids. What a sad life for her. My house is wall to wall books with some starting to stack on the floors. She didn't slow me down learning at all... except for the numbers part. Alchemy works for those most of the time. Straight cut hair seems to have been popular in Katy's time, so can't tell why the other kids were so mean about it. I always sat in front row first seat, so I could see the board. No temptation to goof off either. I was born 6ft tall, so clothes never meant much to me. If they fit they were worn. end of story. Still don't care much. Still 6 ft tall hahahaha.
I’m really enjoying these pieces, Sharron. These snippets into your mother’s life continue to amaze me. Also, I can’t help but compare what schools are like now versus then...what horrible treatment those students received! I’m thankful at least one of the teachers was kind to your mother.