Franco, I’ve missed reading your work for many months- and today rediscovered your creative writing talent. Your poem brings the Catholic school experience to life - and your commentary on public education in our time reminds us how it fails so many. Your education wasn’t wasted judging from your observations and writings.
'It bothered me how loud and obnoxious all the other kids were. And get this: I actually was convinced there was something wrong with me because I enjoyed peace and quiet. Because I wasn’t as “outgoing” as everyone else.'
it’s catholic school, and the priests /are all listening to football on the radio /and the wine tastes kind of sour /when you steal a sip, but the host tastes good /and father so-and-so has a funny accent, / but he’s the best one, he makes people laugh
Loved this! Catholic School girlie here! Relatable.
Very well put. I’ve been thinking a lot about similar things lately, as the education system seems so much different these days & many people that I know plan on homeschooling their children. It’s like… yeah I personally feel like the child that wasn’t supposed to be left behind but idk at least I can kinda write cursive and never outsourced my brain to ChatGPT 😭
So much of education needs reform. Instead of teaching us to be good factory workers we need to learn practical life skills plus creativity that makes our hearts sing and gives us purpose. Thanks for sharing.
I found this to be quite relatable (not Catholic school, though, but public). I was definitely one of those kids who, for better or worse, set themselves apart - and early on, too. I think it was in kindergarten or 1st grade, we had an exercise where the teacher held up pictures and had us shout out synonyms for the things in the pictures that started with particular letters (she didn't call them synonyms, but you get it). She held up an image of a train and asked us for another word for train that started with L. The room fell silent and then I said "locomotive!" The teacher was impressed but I somehow knew from that moment on, I had some kind of target on my back.
I left teaching and am now working to dream up and write another system into existence. Your perspective really resonates. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
I was one of those kids you hated! I always wondered what would happen to you. Granted I was in parochial school in a different time and place (60’s Philly) but it’s similar. Our classrooms had 50 kids in them and the poor nuns had to control it and still educate. Sisters of Mercy. I’m 9th of 10 kids and that was about the average size family for our overwhelmingly Irish Catholic neighborhood.
I wasn’t into the academics and so like four of my brothers before me, found myself in the military before graduating HS. (I did eventually graduate). But with the GI Bill after my tour I went to college, got an MBA, and made a career with a Global 50 and had staff around the world. So glad I didn’t listen to the professor who encouraged me to pursue creative writing! Take care, amigo. I really enjoyed your writing and like others here seem to hint at, it’s more a vocation than career. Maybe why the Catholic kids like it.
Thank you, my friend. I appreciate the comment. Hate's a strong word. I think I just mostly liked to keep to myself. But it's more about how different minds can come together in positive ways than anything else.
You captured the feeling of the drone-like environment and took me back to my own experience. "... and we still need someone’s little hands to clap the erasers outside, in the schoolyard..." I remember my little hands clapping the erasers and being proud to be selected for this important task. Thanks Franco.
Franco, I’ve missed reading your work for many months- and today rediscovered your creative writing talent. Your poem brings the Catholic school experience to life - and your commentary on public education in our time reminds us how it fails so many. Your education wasn’t wasted judging from your observations and writings.
Thank you Mark. Glad you found your way back here :) Happy to hear this resonated with you.
Right on the money, Franco. You always know just the right turn of phrase. There's no teaching that!
thank you, Blake
'It bothered me how loud and obnoxious all the other kids were. And get this: I actually was convinced there was something wrong with me because I enjoyed peace and quiet. Because I wasn’t as “outgoing” as everyone else.'
Yeah. Felt, Franco.😔
❤️ thanks Veronica
it’s catholic school, and the priests /are all listening to football on the radio /and the wine tastes kind of sour /when you steal a sip, but the host tastes good /and father so-and-so has a funny accent, / but he’s the best one, he makes people laugh
Loved this! Catholic School girlie here! Relatable.
So glad you liked this, Kayla. Glad you could relate ❤️
Very well put. I’ve been thinking a lot about similar things lately, as the education system seems so much different these days & many people that I know plan on homeschooling their children. It’s like… yeah I personally feel like the child that wasn’t supposed to be left behind but idk at least I can kinda write cursive and never outsourced my brain to ChatGPT 😭
I'm with you on this, and glad to have discovered your work. Thanks for reading:)
You as well ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Franco, hasn’t the world changed so much from when we were kids? It’s beyond belief.
Radovan* yes, it really has :)
It really has, Radoban. :)
So much of education needs reform. Instead of teaching us to be good factory workers we need to learn practical life skills plus creativity that makes our hearts sing and gives us purpose. Thanks for sharing.
🫶🏻
I found this to be quite relatable (not Catholic school, though, but public). I was definitely one of those kids who, for better or worse, set themselves apart - and early on, too. I think it was in kindergarten or 1st grade, we had an exercise where the teacher held up pictures and had us shout out synonyms for the things in the pictures that started with particular letters (she didn't call them synonyms, but you get it). She held up an image of a train and asked us for another word for train that started with L. The room fell silent and then I said "locomotive!" The teacher was impressed but I somehow knew from that moment on, I had some kind of target on my back.
This was me. Although I made a lot of noise because I wanted to be seen.
Thanks Laggy
Makes sense. It can be difficult to be seen in that context of everyone being taught to be the same.
Also, I fucking hated getting up in front of class. I shouldn’t, because I’m a great storyteller. But alas, I did.
Same. Right there with you, my friend.
I left teaching and am now working to dream up and write another system into existence. Your perspective really resonates. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Thank you, Alyson. I'm glad to hear it resonated with you ❤️
I was one of those kids you hated! I always wondered what would happen to you. Granted I was in parochial school in a different time and place (60’s Philly) but it’s similar. Our classrooms had 50 kids in them and the poor nuns had to control it and still educate. Sisters of Mercy. I’m 9th of 10 kids and that was about the average size family for our overwhelmingly Irish Catholic neighborhood.
I wasn’t into the academics and so like four of my brothers before me, found myself in the military before graduating HS. (I did eventually graduate). But with the GI Bill after my tour I went to college, got an MBA, and made a career with a Global 50 and had staff around the world. So glad I didn’t listen to the professor who encouraged me to pursue creative writing! Take care, amigo. I really enjoyed your writing and like others here seem to hint at, it’s more a vocation than career. Maybe why the Catholic kids like it.
Thank you, my friend. I appreciate the comment. Hate's a strong word. I think I just mostly liked to keep to myself. But it's more about how different minds can come together in positive ways than anything else.
Gotcha! Good point about “hate” too.
Thanks for bringing me back to the days of chalkboards, movie projectors and paper before tech took over and changed everything. 🩵
Thank you Grace:)
You captured the feeling of the drone-like environment and took me back to my own experience. "... and we still need someone’s little hands to clap the erasers outside, in the schoolyard..." I remember my little hands clapping the erasers and being proud to be selected for this important task. Thanks Franco.
Thank you, Ted. I remember too, they made it seem like it was an honor or something.
Well, yes an honor. And I was totally sucked in—needy kid.
I like this x
Thanks Emily :)
Lost st poet, you are right where you exist.
Your state of mind a wonder lust, is it not?
Humble enough to still have the a lilt of
question in your voice, forever young.
Please, remind your ambitious mood,
The moment you arrive, the journey's over.