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He tells us what is important and why. No master ever told us why before. If you asked why you’d be hit on the head. Hoppy doesn’t call us idiots and if you ask a question he doesn’t go into a rage. He’s the only master who stops and says, Do ye understand what I’m talking about? Do ye want to ask a question?” [Chapter XIII, pg 207]
When Frank McCourt started his sixth grade class, he experienced a very different kind of teacher. McCourt is used to the typical catholic headmaster of the time. However, Mr. O’Halloran (Hoppy) tells the children what is important and, most atypically, explains why it is important. He engages the children and encourages them to ask questions. This detail is interesting to me because McCourt is almost awestruck with this new and different teaching method, whereas in today’s schools, this style is expected. He marvels as he recounts, “No master ever told us why before.” This poor boy has suffered through many verbal and physical beatings, and he is finally seeing what education can really be like. Mr. O’Halloran is proof that even in harsh catholic schools, progress can slowly be made towards a better school system.
Abby Cervelloni
My grandfather of 80 yrs was born and raised in Ireland. He had a rough Catholic childhood full of poverty and loss. I chose to read Angela’s Ashes because the author, Frank McCourt, went through parallel hardships and I wanted to learn more about my heritage. This summer I went to Ireland and even visited my grandfather’s tiny hometown, so i got to experience the setting of my book as I read it.
