Franklin High School - Oskey Yearbook (Franklin, MA)

Page 22 text:

Miss Holmes A faithful stand-by, when it came to chaperoning our social functions, was Miss Marion Holmes, English teacher and Librarian. Without doubt, one could acquire a practical education in Miss Holmes’ Eng¬ lish classes alone. Similar to the courses of Miss Wiggin, her periods are so over- flowing with varying information that one cannot afford to allow his mind to wander even for the shortest amount of time. Students appreciate a teacher who not only performs his duty perfectly and in a likeable manner, but at the same time supports all athletic engagements, so¬ cial functions, and dramatic attempts. Miss Holmes has proved such a teacher and will, we are sure, remain high on our list of true friends. The diminutive Coach Beane, quite a player in his own right, is known throughout the state for his coaching ability. Franklin is indeed very fortunate in having such a fellow handling its court- men when such schedules as it is in the habit of having are drawn up. Football and baseball, during the years of 1940, 1941, and the early part of 1942, were coached by George Colbert. When he became a lieutenant in the Navy, ex- Manhattan ace, James Walsh, succeeded him. Mr. Walsh, Civics teacher, turned out two fine football squads along with a pair of snappy diamond teams. There is no doubt that he has revived football at the school and is looking forward to an even more successful season during the fall of ’44. The students can never forget such games as the 1942 Foxboro engagement and the trio of 1943 games, Medway, Dean Academy, and Northbridge. Mr. Walsh and Mr. Beane

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INFORMALLY When Principal James J. Doherty, in January of 1943, joined the Army Air Corps to become Lieutenant Doherty, the class of ’44 bade a temporary “adieu” to the first member of the faculty with whom they had become acquainted. As first day freshmen, we had meekly filed into the echoing auditorium to hear Mr. Doherty warn, I’m going to put every¬ one of your noses to the grindstone and leave them there until they bleed!” That statement caused each to be ra¬ ther wary of the slim principal. And. as a result, most of us got ofif on the right foot. Temporary fear of Mr. Doherty was replaced by deep respect. He proved to be what makes for the perfect principal: well-educated, aggressive, just, under¬ standing, and very co-operative. Naturally, this class, along with the other students in the school, was very reluctant to lose Mr. Doherty. Hut the Army apparently needed his services more than did Davis-Thayer High School. With that consolation, the pupils and fac¬ ulty ' were more than willing to carry on as before. Lieut. Doherty Lieut. Doherty was not the first mem¬ ber of the faculty to join the armed forces. Preceding him were Mr. George Colbert ( Lieut. j.g.y, Mr. Gordon Fitz¬ patrick G.ieut.;. and Mr. Howard Ab¬ bott (Lieut. U.S.A.). All three left in the summer of 1942, shortly after our sophomore year. Commencing our junior year, we found ourselves minus an advisor. A commit¬ tee was appointed to nominate four pos¬ sibilities. The four names were balloted and voted upon. It resulted in a walk¬ away for our Italian and French teacher, Mr. Joseph DePasqua. In Mr. DePasqua we again had an ad¬ visor who, as a teacher, made interest¬ ing a tough subject. Students in his classes absorbed knowledge and yet were kept in “stitches’ - day ' in and day out. Because his humor is a thoroughly ' orig¬ inal and straight-faced type, it took all of us a few days to feel at ease in his classes. His versatility and patriotism were exhibited this year when he not only held down a normally full-time teaching schedule (besides being our advisor, which is, in our case, really a problem) but also served as a keyman in the Walsh-Kaiser -hip vards from 2 P.M. through 11 :30 P.M. Phy sical excellence, unusual alertness, original humor, and attractive personal¬ ity have made him more than a teacher and an advisor—they have made him a friend to honor and to enjoy. Mr. DePasqua

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Lieut. Fitzpatrick had been elected as our class advisor while we were fresh¬ men. His sparkling personality and amazing tact had made him one of the most popular members of the faculty, not only with our class but with others before. Even though Algebra and Geometry are, to most people, very stuffy subjects, his classes were generally swelling to the doors. Pnpils are fascinated by a teacher of Lieut. Fitzpatrick’s calibre . . . one who flashes a smile continually and interweaves humor with mathemat¬ ics in such proportions as to evolve a very interesting period. Lieut. Fitzpatrick It is very seldom that one finds a per¬ son who accepts the trends of a rapidly changing world and lives according to the age no matter how extreme the al¬ teration. Such a person remains un¬ prejudiced, never grows dull and has the respect of all with whom he comes in contact. One of these rare exceptions is Miss Alice Wiggin, English teacher of long standing at Franklin. A clearer interpretation of the sub¬ ject English is his who has been under her able tutorage. One realizes that English is not merely a study of a lan¬ guage but also a look into many inter¬ esting phases of religions, history, sci¬ ence, philosophy, and the arts, among others. A student ambitious to become a teacher said of her, “She’s one who re¬ news my faith in teaching.” That state¬ ment is characteristic of the considera¬ tion of every member of this class of 1944 and all others who have come in contact with her. Miss Wiggin