Psychologically, the teaching sisters were the products of a very structured environment in the convents and were kept under strict discipline as novices. They did tend to be strict with the more wild and undisciplined of their charges.

With the old fashioned "maximum habits" they used to wear, they could be pretty intimidating just walking along the street or shopping.

Not being Catholic, I was terrified of them as they reminded me of the wicked witch in Snow White.