A Catholic school education is life-changing

By Tom Barbera

In the summer that I turned 6 years old, my family moved from West Philadelphia to the Collingswood area. My parents had a growing family. I already had three older sisters and two younger sisters. My schooling started in the fall at Saint John Elementary School. My three older sisters were enrolled in classes ahead of me.

I had a problem that was not to be resolved in first grade, or for a number of grades thereafter. I had a speech impediment, and people – including my classmates and the nuns at the school – could rarely understand what I was attempting to say.

When my mother went to a parent-teacher meeting, one of the teachers praised Mom, who despite having the three girls, had charitably taken this young, foreign, non-English-speaking child into her home. That, of course, was me. Born into the exotic world of Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Darby, Pa.

I think back then, anyone who cared to consider my problem thought I was a “late talker” – a condition I would outgrow.

But even in sixth grade, there was still a large majority of people not understanding me. A couple of close classmates acted as interpreters around town, and of course, would put their own spin on things when they didn’t understand me.

It may be difficult to imagine, but back when I was in elementary school, many specialties that assist students today, including speech therapists, were very rare.

The summer after sixth grade, one of my teachers, Sister Corinne, insisted that I come to the kindergarten building each weekday morning. So before I went off on my bike to make deliveries for Dom’s Deli – or later, deliver newspapers (back then not all newspapers came in the morning) – and before I went off to Little League, I went to meet with Sister Corinne. I was embarrassed to go to the kindergarten building, which I had never previously attended.

There, I sat in front of a mirror, and Sister Corinne told me where to place my tongue and how my lips should move to create certain sounds. And Sister corrected me, corrected me, and then she corrected me.

At the end of the summer, I went into the seventh grade, and when I spoke, I was understood for the first time.

Once I started being understood, I certainly spoke more often and at greater length. Two years later, at Camden Catholic High School, I was on the debate team and later in the senior play.  And after college and military service, I graduated from law school.  

Do I think of Sister Corinne and how she changed my life? How can I not. I can’t imagine that this Sister of Mercy thought summer mornings with a 12-year-old were an enjoyable expenditure of her time. I do know, however, that I did not show any appropriate appreciation for her efforts at the time. Shame on me.

I know the direct help I received was a benefit of a Catholic school education that is not likely to be found elsewhere. Because I believe that is still true today, I strongly support the Catholic school system at all levels.

God Bless Sister Corinne.

Tom Barbera is a South Jersey Scholarship Fund board member.

Help Students Thrive!

Thanks to generous donors, the South Jersey Scholarship Fund provided more than $100,000 in scholarships for 105 students to continue their Catholic education in the Diocese of Camden for the 2022-23 school year.

However, families are still in need of support. In fact, more than 50% of local Catholic school families demonstrate a financial need. That’s where the Spring Sprint for Scholarships comes in. From now to July 1, the SJSF is looking to raise $50,000 to help South Jersey’s children receive a high-quality education that exceeds national and state curriculum standards. These students mature into adults who understand the importance of service, faith and family. 

Make a positive impact on the future of our communities! Visit southjerseycatholicschools.org/springsprint.