School back in Frank's time was much more difficult. I'm not talking about the actual subjects but about how it was run. They were taught by priests and the priests resorted to violence to control the boys. "... Mr. Benson heard him and took him out to the hallway and knocked him around till he howled" (McCourt 121). Also, there was a hierarchy within the boys. Those who had less were beaten up by the boys who were more fortunate. "Now if I hear of one boy in this class jerring and sneering at McCourt or his brother over their shoes the stick will come out" (McCourt 106). The McCourts couldn't afford new shoes so their father tied pieces of tire to the bottom of their shoes.
The priests have very different styles of teaching than the teachers today. The priests make the boys repeat everything they same back to them to make sure they're listening. "What have we dont, boys? Bared our necks to the Protestant ax, sir. And? Mounted the scaffold singing, sir. As if? Embarking on a picnic, sir" (McCourt 122). The boys also have to show respect to their teacher by calling him sir, which is not done today. The teachers also have very low tolerance levels. "You're not here to be asknig questions... if I find any boy in this class asking questions I won't be responsible for what happens" (McCourt 118). Today students are suppose to ask questions but in Frank's time that could lead to punishment. That may be because of the different time periods but also because we're in a different country.
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This school life sounds terrible, and like the complete opposite of school life today. How horrible that the teachers, who were priests, would physically abuse the children! That is totally uncalled for. Also, it is very interesting because you would think a priest would've resort to violence, but taking situations and handling them in a very manerly way. The hiearchy within the boys is very interesting too. I could see how that could happen, cause as sad as it is, it still happens at schools today. I also thought it was strange when I read that the students weren't supposed to ask questions. How could people learn that way? That is totally different than today... teachers encourage us to ask many questions!
I think it is odd how in a supposed institution of learning, asking questions is not allowed. By not asking questions, the students are destined to be blind followers rather than scholars who seek to advance themselves mentally.
I know that i always complain about school, but these kids were just happy to be getting an education; even though they had to endure a pretty difficult experience. Times have indeed changed and you really did a great job of pointing this out. I too am reading this book and I felt that the school was good for the boys, but even though it's giving them somewhere to escape to their class mates ridicule them. After reading your post I'm now thinking more about their situation in school. Great job Shannon!!
I agree that the school structure has changed a lot. I do think the difference could partially be placed on the fact that Frank attended a Christian school. When I lived in Wisconsin I attended a Catholic grade school and things were very different than with the Edina public schools. Things were very orderly and free thought was not as important as it is in the Edina schools. Granted, things were not nearly as strict as in Frank's school. We were not abused by the teachers and forced to repeat things. Going off of this, I would not think that priests would turn to violence seeing as Christianity stresses being kind to everyone.
I think it's very sad that students have only been able to question their elders and teachers in recent history. Think of all the people that who could have had better lives if students were encouraged to question the way the world was and were encouraged to change it for the better.
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