Below is an excerpt from Letter #728.

“Here are some experiences we have had in our three schools which might prove helpful in sending personnel. Schools will not become large, for there are too many of them, and attendance is voluntary, which is bad. Children attend one school today, another tomorrow, just as they please. If they are corrected they do not come back; learning they often consider recreation. All they want to do is eat cookies, taffy and molasses candy, a cheap sweet. This causes us much trouble. If we forbid it they threaten not to come to school any more. At the slightest punishment their parents say, ‘In this country one may not treat children so severely; they, too, must be given freedom.’

They do not listen to any one, and even strike their parents if they do not give in to them. They laugh and jeer at priests. They ask boldly, ‘Can I go down stairs? I want to go home now.’ They will not write one letter of the alphabet at home. ‘I go to school for that,’ is their answer. Homework cannot be introduced here; the parents do not want it either. Therefore, everything must be studied with them in school. They do not manifest the slightest eagerness to learn German. English, however, they want to learn to read and write. They hate German. All one hears is English. If they want to insult each other they say, ‘You German!’...

“It is difficult to give them grades or keep school records; today one or other leaves, and four to six weeks absence is not uncommon. They show little or no interest in needlework. What is most to their liking is jumping, running, dancing, tagging, singing, and fighting. They are like wild animals, and try out all their naughtiness in school.

Children sit in the school benches with legs crossed, backs leaning and arms folded like men at the theater in our country. They even speak to priests in this position, and the latter must put up with it in order not to displease the parents. It is difficult to get them to come to holy Mass on Sundays and holy days. As soon as it becomes a bit warm they use fans, want a drink constantly, and do not want to study. If it is cold, only a few come to school; these do not take off their wraps, but write with their mittens on. This is how pampered and spoiled even German children are in America. If they do not know something they answer boldly, ‘Teacher did not know it either when she was little.’

They mumble all kinds of abusive language in English. One of the reasons the children do not want to study is the fact that their minds are filled with concern for boys. They write little notes to each other, exchange gifts, etc. They consider this all right, and parents laugh about it if told. In the lavatories they behave indecently, do not close the door, talk, laugh and sing while there. This is common in America, even with adults... Teaching school is difficult and we implore the dear Lord fervently for his grace...”

Your eternally grateful,
Mary Theresa of Jesus

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Below is an excerpt from Letter #10.

“We opened St. Peter’s School (Philadelphia) in September, 1848, with 146 girls but now have 235.

I am writing from my own personal experience when I say that any School Sister who can influence them must be a most efficient and practical teacher. Never before had I encountered so imperative and urgent a need to be most firm and determined to insist on school discipline.

The dear children are like young horses where one must always hold the reins. Their fiery and passionate – also, restless and fidgety – temperaments prevent all undisturbed or uninterrupted instructions. The subject must be changed frequently and only a lively and vivacious presentation attracts them. The teacher must show a warm, lively interest in her pupils; only in this way can she work effectively and win their hearts. Then, even if at times she must seem strict or be severe, they have become devoted to her. Of course, this is indeed the general rule but nowhere is it so imperatively necessary as here.

Often the exertion and the fatigue endured in class was (sic) lessened a bit by the delightful answers given by some girls who were so naïve, e.g. ‘What causes thunder?’ ‘Two clouds come together and then they crash.’...Once I told the children that mercury was so called because it went around the sun so fast. Shortly after that one of the girls called another one, Mercury, because she walked and talked so fast - no incorrect judgment.

This year we hope to conduct our school examinations publicly for the second time with these pupils and to have an exhibition of their needlework. But America has such a different type of display! Nothing but laces is knitted. Every piece of clothing trimmed with lace – lace on the sleeves, on pants, on everything, in short, the whole child is enveloped in laces. No one would think of knitting stockings or of sewing any piece of clothing because you can buy such articles in the store very cheaply. Besides knitting lace, the children usually make quilts. Each one is generally three or four yards square. They sew from 100 to 1,000 patches together; these are varied in color (red, blue, green, gray, etc.) as well as material (cotton, silk, canvas). The patches are of different sizes and shapes and when sewed together they make various designs- stars, three or four cornered with oblique and straight lines. At our public examination such quilts covered our walls. On these we attached the handmade laces for exhibition. However, each year we hope to prepare better needlework. The pupils have made a good start already knitting stocking and making simple articles of clothing, even dresses. The German parents, who cannot forget their dear fatherland, are glad to renew the culture and the customs of the School Sisters and rouse the consciences of their children.2Now, Reverend Father, you must have heard more than enough concerning our schools kindly pardon me...

Respectfully signed in the name of all

Maria Caroline Friess
German-American School Sister

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