Same here with thinking much of it would be considered child abuse today. Some of it was also child abuse then but no one gave a shit because we were all 'problem' kids.

The place I was at was also a farm with pigs and cows.

It was an all male live-in school where we were there for five days a week except for two months in the summer.

We not only had to go to church each day but also had to either attend their church on Sunday or have proof that we went to another church.

Nothing like good old 'fire, brimstone and you are going to hell for being you' to set a kid on a 'better' path! That is sarcasm obviously but that was the mentality. The whole experience really fucked me up.

Yeah the books helped tremendously.