After graduating from St Theresa's Grade School on Morris Park Avenue in June of 1961, I spent my freshman year at Cardinal Hayes. 1961-62. 5,000 boys, what more could you ask for. I had trouble with Latin and Algebra, the way the Irish Christian Brothers teach it, with the slab of shoe sole leather in their back pocket. Wrong answer, slap!! Upside your head. I passed all my classes but I was barely a C student. In 1962 my family moved to Topeka, KS. I began attending Hayden Catholic High School as a sophomore. I showed up for school in an olive green 3 piece suit, white shirt, gold silk tie with matching socks and pointy toed shoes with little zippers up the sides. What a geek. I actually carried a briefcase for my books. Jeans were not allowed in this school but it was, like, chinos and madras shirts. No tennis shoes were allowed so we had to wear dress shoes. I was the tough Italian kid from New York. The biggest adjustment for me was the girls. Cheerleaders and girls in the pep club. Short skirts and bulky sweaters. Saddle shoes and white socks. Hayes was all boys. There were no distractions. Anyway, the change of venue was good for me. Kids were driving their own cars to school at the age of 16. Of course, my dad, being from New York, wouldn't hear of such a thing. The tuition at Hayes had been $150.00. The tuition at my new school was $60.00. Life was a lot slower and there weren't near so many people. Again the biggest adjustment was girls. Really a distraction. When I said the venue was good for me, I made the honor roll my sophomore and junior years. My senior year I slacked off. I had my own car and had lots of other things on my mind. 1956 Chevy, two door hard top, rebuilt 327 cu in engine with a 4 barrel carb and a four on the floor. Bronze and cream, a great ride. We called it a PW for Pu**y Wagon. I graduated when I was 17, but in Kansas in those days you could buy beer at 18. I went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad in August of 65, 3 months after graduation, and in May of 66 left for boot camp. Those definitely were the days.
"A special breed of man will sacrifice everything for the security and freedom of so many unthankful others" --Unknown Author "We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -- George Orwell
Frank... I attended Hayes the same year but at the St. Bernard's Annex on W.13th St. The following year I went to the main on the Concourse. You're correct about the discipline there but it instilled a value system that lasts a lifetime. However, I don't ever recall any corporal punishment being administered to any student. I worked a part time job and paid my fifteen dollar a month tuition at Hayes.
No corporal punishment?? You never had to explain bad grades to Monsignor Healy. Fr. McCormick was the Dean of Discipline, but it was Healy that you feared! I attended Hayes from 64 through 68 and do not regret a second. Even the occasional 'correction'! I can think rings around todays' college grads.
Posts: 4 | Location: Orange County, NY | Registered: 04 December 2006
