Diman Vocational High School - Artisan Yearbook (Fall River, MA)

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CLASS HISTORY School bells ringing on that memorable morning in September, 1948, heralded a new phase in our young lives, summoning us, as they did, to the start of a determined career in Vocational Education in preparation for a useful life. To give you, gentle readers, an insight into the four years which we, the Class of 1952, have spent upon the good ship 'Diman'g to give you a glimpse of our life upon the broad river of knowledge in search of 'The Springs of Success'g to picture to you the eddies, whirpools, and rocky reefs towards which we have frequently been lured by the song of the siren only to steer away and seek the broad and open stream, to give to you some ideas of the agonies which we have suffered when our intellects be- came parched with their thirst for wisdom, and also to disclose to you the many pleas- ures and enjoyments which were used as oil to still the troubled waters surging around us, I shall unfold the story of those eventful days, gleaning my story from the log of the good ship which has borne us in safety to our destination. We lost no time in setting sail upon our cruise. Our vessel, like all Gaul, was divided into three parts, Academic, Shop, and extra-curriculum. It carried a motley throng of some one-hundred odd passengers gathered mostly from all parts of our native Fall River, but containing a few who came from the tall timbers of Swansea, Westport, and Tiverton and were willing to admit it. Aboard our ship were two pilots, Mr. Joseph P. Gilligan and Mr. Charles E. Matte, both equally skilful at the helm and each alert to the needs of our 'boot trainingi Mr. Gilligan having sailed before the mast for many years, insisted that the two most dan- gerous points upon our journey, or anywhere upon the sea of life, were the 'Haven of Laziness' and the 'Whirlpools of Indifferencei He firmly maintained that a successful voyage could only be accomplished by hard work and then more work. Those of us who mutinied under his firm, but considerate orders, soon learned that he was right. Mr. Matte, likewise had had some lengthy experience and quickly taught us that a well-disciplined ship always maintains its true course. A meeting of the passengers was called at which we decided to choose a Presi- dent. Lewis Constance was unanimously elected. Having been out of port for about a year, we were now well versed in the ways of a 'swabby' on the deck of the S. S. DIMAN. In June, of that following year we 'lay to' in the little town of Rest, until we could resume our journey on the following September. It was here that some members of the Cruise strolled too far from port and were among the missing when we re-embarked for points North.

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TRAFFIC SQUAD Proper movement of the student body between classes, alwaysa major concern of the administrative policy of Diman, became more opia- nounced with an increased enrollment of -Freshman students entering anew phase of educational activity. A traffic squad organized under the supervision of Mr. August Curt, Faculty Moderator, performed its duties with pride and efficiency. To carry out the school's traffic policies George -Lelievre and Richard Morrissette were elected 'Chief and Assistant Chief of Traffic respectively. An Executive Council consisting of George Jasmin, Albert Pimental and Norman Berube was elected to sit in Court and judge traffic viola-tors. These students -and the traffic squad performed an admirable job and are to be congratulated for their sincerity of purpose in the performance of their duty. b q

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Sophomore year found us reassembled for our cruise on September 6th. Our ship had been overhauled and now consisted of a new gym as well as our main deck. Many of our companions of the first leg of our journey were conspicuous by their absence. Among these were Ed. Chicca, Bob Cusick, A1 Mendes, Harry Thomp- son, Jim McMurray, Jim Cyr, Nelson Shea, and a few others who had strolled so far away that we can get little account of them unless through service records. We gathered together for a re-election of officers, George Lelievre being chosen president of the Class. Coach Charles O'Keefe, first mate extraordinary, now appear- ed upon the new deck to teach us the ways and wherefores of a sound supplementary Physical Training, so helpful in the full development of a good citizen. It is needless to mention the accredited accomplishment of our noble crew when we recall that First Mate O'Keefe's efficient coaching brought aboard the coveted Eastern Mass. Class C. Basketball Championship, as well as the Narry League Em- blem of Leadershipg both trophies now on display in the Main Cabin on deck A. , Shore leave was granted to all hands that we might celebrate our greatest deed for Diman and we basked in the sunshine of prominence because of our victorious record, for many days to follow. At the Victory banquet in the Eagle restaurant, we were showered with heroic praises and the gifts of an appreciative citizenry. Nor was the social side of our development by any means neglected. A series of enjoyable assemblies tended to give surcease from the steady drill of school-life. It is worthy of note at this time to mention the progress in social niceties displayed on the dance floor of our classy gym deck, by so many of our bashful brothers. Many a wall flower crewman became a dancing fool at the insistence of the more sophisticated hoofers of our worthy gang. About the middle of June, we slowly steamed into the harbor of Repose, dropped our anchors, and scattered abroad to come together the following September and take up the third stage of our journey. Junior year discovered many more vacant chairs at our table when we first ap- peared for lunch after resuming our journey on Sept. 7. Pickering, Lord, Vanesse, Lowery and Dagais had been enchanted by the call to arms and had decided to sign up for the next few years. Some, and one in particular, had been felled by the darts of Cupid as they wandered about the by-ways of Boston after enjoying a 'Peach of a time'.