Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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! t f § | DR. JOHN JOSEPH KELLY f § President of Bridgewater State Teachers College § | 1937-1951 | § § § LAST MESSAGE § | § § The world of education has always needed a devoted, intelligent guidance; § y today it is desperate for a leadership based on a true sense of values — values S 1 y of time and of eternity. § y The real problem of education, the responsibility of the teacher, is to § y show the child his wonderful possibilities, point a way to arouse his latent y y energies, and stimulate through the inspiration of precept and example his § y physical, mental and spiritual growth. y y No one, pupil or teacher, can make the most of himself until he looks y y upon his life as a magnificent promise, a possibility susceptible of realization. y y The promise, in our profession, lies in loyalty to our responsibility, our enthus- y y iasm for the sometimes arduous means as well as for the always glorious end. y y Our world needs good men and good women. Certainly it is part of our y y task to play a substantial part in the training that makes for the full life in y y today ' s pupils — tomorrow ' s destiny. It is platitudinous to say there is more y j to life than making a living, yet we do not need to be reminded in this day of y y multiple distraction that this is a mere incident in God ' s plan. We must not y j only believe this; we must feel it; it must become part of the very core of | j our beings. Then we shall, in a very special way, live the life triumphant, the y y life surrounded by the fruition of its sincere efforts. Life is God ' s great school y y for mankind; how blest we are to be part of His plan. y | May the measure of your good will and honest purpose in the adventure | y of teaching be the measure of your happiness and success. y I § t ! § § § t

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ALPHA 1952 State Teachers College qt Bridgewater, Massachusetts h m n - R

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Administrator, teacher, gentleman and friend, Dr. John Joseph Kelly has become the quintessence of Bridgewater ' s ideals. Always ready to act as guide and counsellor, his every action was a mani- festation of the sincerity, understanding and unselfishness which so character- ized him. During his fourteen years of presidency, Bridgewater became the scene of many important advances: The college became an accredited member of the American Association for Teacher Education, University Extension courses were instituted and a summer session of the college initiated. Closely related with his interest in the problems of youth was Dr. Kelly ' s work in establishing the annual convention of Girls State, which is held each June at the college. Civic affairs concerned him deeply and in them Dr. Kelly exemplified a spirit of public-mindedness and service. An active member of many organi- zations, he was largely responsible for a municipal field being established in Bridgewater and provided opportunities for town children to participate in sports activities. In his messages and talks to the stude nt body, Dr. Kelly stressed open- mindedness, sincerity and service as inalienable parts of a true teacher. He was concerned, too, with the spiritual and moral aspects. To be a teacher is to have a great mission in life, he wrote, and then, on another occasion, May success in your chosen profession be measured by your contribution of service to those you instruct and to your fellow men in their quest for spiritual security. These were words in which he believed and words which he himself exemplified. To those of us who have had the privilege of being associated with him, Dr. Kelly ' s idealism will long be felt. Our hearts and our minds will retain his teachings — a benevolent influence, omnipotent and real, that shall guide us toward the richest fulfillment of our profession.