for the boomer period, the higher standards were for behavior, very strict, those that caused too much trouble or needed special attention were kicked out to the public schools. I'm talking grade 1-8, no kindergarten available, you went to public if you wanted that. Classes of 50, one twenty-something nun still going to college herself. It was just old fashioned rote schooling, the three R's The curriculum wasn't that great, we, for instance, had pretty rudimentary science curriculum and no gym.  Jumping jacks on the playground started with President Kennedy's physical fitness push, that was, I am sure, because they adored him.  No cafeteria, you brought your lunch. For home ec one year they would walk us from one grade all together to a public school because there was no facilities at our school. And I expect that was because it was required by state law. No labs of any kind, just classrooms.  No library., you were encouraged to go to the local public library. Actually about the only thing sophisticated about what we were taught was religion class, it was the era of  the Ecumenical Council and the nuns were all studying that and would teach us about the Jewish religion and Anne Frank and theology behind The Little Prince.

Looking back now I see what they were actually selling is that you would be learning with kids that came from good families kids that behaved and did their homework. That was the standard: that you were there to learn academics, not to learn social skills or art or music (the plastic clarinets, what were they called, that was it, nothing else, except you could of course join choir which was extracurricular), and they weren't going to be babysitters

Oh for holidays we'd all go in the big basement and they'd show us a movie. Usually a monster pic like the Godzilla kind. No sports, just hopskotch, volleyballs or bouncing balls during recess if you wanted them, one volleyball court behind the convent.