Franklin High School - Oskey Yearbook (Franklin, MA)

Page 24 text:

Lieut. Abbott An uncensored fact is that, in the past few years, basketball has stepped out as the favorite sport for local fans. Per¬ haps this is mainly because of the splen¬ did records that Blue and White basket- eers have enjoyed of late. Unofficially, the best four-year record of any single group of Franklin High players has been racked up by a quintet of boys in the class of ’44. Their record since entering high school as freshmen is 41 wins and 11 defeats in Massachusetts competition. Most of the credit for that record must be given, however, to Coaches Abbott and Beane. When Coach Howard Abbott, who had handled the freshman and junior varsity clubs, joined the Quartermaster Corps, he left all basketball coaching in the very able hands of varsity mentor, Mr, Henri Beane. Miss Mary Marrs, in two years as U. S. History teacher, has accomplished that which very few are able to do . . . the capturing of the respect and admiration of the entire student-body. United States History is one of the most important studies of a high school student and is upheld by a teacher such as Miss Marrs. Misfortune it was that the boys did not have much of an opportunity to en¬ joy classes with the girls’ athletic di¬ rector, Miss Alice Beane. Several of the boys did, however, take her Ancient History course during their freshman year. They also were able to note resemblance to Brother Henri when it came to basketball playing and coach¬ ing. Miss Beane and Miss Marrs

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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

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The shadow of Miss Holmes (or vice- versa) is Miss DeBaggis. The two are always together. Miss DeBaggis does double duty as a teacher of Latin and of English. One can hardly write about her with¬ out mentioning her feminine physical charms as well as her marvelous teach¬ ing personality, the latter reaching its zenith when munching cake and candy with the huge (four pupils) Latin IV Class. She is another member of the faculty who has gone out of her way to sup¬ port the activities of this class. The fact that she, like Miss Holmes, when chaperoning the socials, was often asked to dance by many representatives of the male enrollment of the school is further witness of our regard for her! Miss DeBaggis The closing lines of an essay, or arti¬ cle, are usually the clinching words of the entire composition. That’s why this informal write-up of the faculty is clos¬ ing with our endeared friend, Mr. Charles F. Frazer. But, since this section (and as a matter of fact, the whole book) is more or less informal, let’s refer to Prin¬ cipal Frazer as “Doc” . . . the name by which we all know him. In the midst of the 1941-1942 year, “Doc,” an amazingly versatile gentle¬ man, underwent a voluntary metamor¬ phosis as far as position is concerned. He gave up his teaching capacities and moved into the office to assume the man¬ ifold responsibilities of the principalship. And, he took on this job at a critical period. Teachers were leaving for the Armed Forces and to better paying po¬ sitions. New teachers were being broken in. Students, spurred by the sped-up ways of a war-time living, persisted in being harder than usual to discipline. Despite the onslaught, “Doc” restored, to a great extent, normality. Before becoming principal, Mr. Fra¬ zer taught chemistry and physics. His classes were always marked by a suffi¬ ciency of “Doc”-styled humor. How¬ ever, his position, as principal, necessi¬ tated the discarding of some of this hu¬ mor— outwardly at least, but inwardly he still is and always will be the jovial, good-natured, smiling friend to all!! “Doc” Frazer A