The thing that really P’s the public school’s O, is that the Catholics in Ohio absolutely kick their butt academically, and then they turn around a kick their butts all over the sports fields, too.
Can you imagine? They demand, insist that students work at their education. And then they still find time for recreation at the highest level.
Imagine what can be accomplished with a plan.
I’m not catholic, by the way. Just an observer.
‘I’m not catholic, by the way. Just an observer.’
Neither am I but I have had good experiences while at the Abbey of Gethsemani, it is spelled with an i on the coffee cup that I purchased there so I am going with it, all the other words are in Latin so that may be why.
I know the Abbot there and once asked him if he had been a drill sergeant at one time, he said no, he joined the order at the age of 16. Discipline is pretty strict there, it is a non speaking order, only in certain places and situations are they allowed to speak. Hardest thing I ever did was try to keep my big mouth shut for a weekend.
They are Trappists and make the best cheese you can find. They cannot turn away anyone who comes to their door and house and feed you well. If you wish to pay you are allowed to and I always pay what I figure it would cost in a decent hotel and pay extra for food.
The grounds are huge, some they cultivate themselves, some they lease out to local farmers. I have heard it is anywhere from 2000 to 3000 acres. It has hiking trails all over it and several peaceful spots set aside for reflection. I once asked an 80 year old monk, Merton was his mentor by the way, why they had such lousy singers. He told me the good ones died off. They are buried in front of the monastery with small metal crosses with their names and date of birth and death only. They are humble in life and death.