Elaine Smith:  

Started Kindergarten at St Francis in Lodi New Jersey in 1958 when I was four. Mrs Kish was my teacher and she was kind to me. Sr Dulcilia was my first grade teacher and that was a different story. She was one of only three negatives in the eight years I attended St Francis. Unlike some people, I loved the sisters, loved the Baltimore Catechism. Later in my life when I had so many questions, I found that their method of teaching taught me how to think and to find the answers. I believe they saved my life. If you are a classmate from St Francis, I remember you vividly, and except for one of you, with very fond memories. (This person is not on this list and was only in my third grade class. Thank God!) So, if you're reading this, it wasn't you. We left New Jersey for California during 7th grade and the only thing good about that move was not having to endure the reign of Sr Dulcilia as Sr Superior. God bless Sr Emily, Sr John, Sr Simplicia, Miss Mauchet, Mrs Kish and Sr Athenatius, I believe that was her name. She was an elderly sister who visited the school sometimes. After our move to California, went to Hamilton Junior High and was a fish out of water. We, my siblings and I, talked differently, dressed differently, and I was lost. Being socially inept made high school a painful time for me, but in the nearly forty years since, I have made some headway and am ready to face this ordeal. The ordeal of looking back and acknowledging how bad I was at doing school. I have been married and divorced twice, (I'm as bad at marriage as I was at school.) But, I have t...Expand for more