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

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SCHOOL ln a report of the Massachusetts Commission on lndustrial and Technical Education, published in 1906, it was shown that 33'M: of the children of the state of Massachusetts who began work between the ages of 14 and 16 were employed in unskilled indus- tries and 6545 in low grade industries. Unskilled in- dustries were defined as those in which the work was a repetition of a single or simple operation easily learned in a short period of time, and in which the knowledge of one part was not essential to that of another. This called for a low grade of ability and led to nothing higher. Thus for many young workers who were forced into wage earning at 14 years of age there had been a pitiable waste of years be- tween 14 and 21, for many of those persons had ex- cellent mental ability and a strong aptitude for the mechanical arts and trades. lt was to help this class of boys that Fr. John B. Diman, headmaster of St. George's School, Newport, in a far seeing spirit of philanthropy, gave an en- dowment in 1912 which made possible the voca- tional school in the John J. McDonough school build- ing. Fr. Diman generously paid the salary of the in- structor, Mr. Frederick H. Rundall for two years, and furnished the best equipment that could be procured for such a shop. The cost of the equipment for the first year was approximately 5500. This included two lathes, operated by electricity, twelve drawing tables, four woodworking benches, and all neces- sary tools and instruments. For the school year 1913- '14, further equipment, at additional cost was in- stalled. An important feature of their training was the part time schedule. While the boys were in school, their mornings were usually spent in shop, and their afternoon sessions were usually spent in instruction in their academic studies, two and a half hours of arithmetic, English, civics, and mechanical drawing. The teacher for this work was furnished by the school department. In 1912-'13 there were sixteen boys in the school. In September of 1913 nine of these returned plus eighteen new boys. These boys were eager to obtain instruction that would advance them in the industrial world. The school while yet in its infancy gave promise of filling satisfactorily an urgent need. While the high schools and colleges provided opportunity for those between 14 and 21 who wished to further their education, no provision had been made up to this time for those who had to devote these years to earning a livelihood. Fall River owes to the generosity and public spirit of Fr. Diman its first example of this much needed form of education. To parents and children it emphasized the dignity of skilled craftsmanship and taught them the fact HISTORY that there was a bright future in this country for the well trained worker in the useful arts and trades. The city owed a debt of gratitude to Fr. Diman for this invaluable addition to its educational resources. Due to an increasing enrollment, the school com- mittee on May 22, 1916, requested the mayor to lease the two upper floors of the Kennedy Building to be used as quarters for a day industrial school, and to be known as the Diman Industrial School, with Frederick H. Rundall as director. The courses offered were carpentry, painting, house decoration, and sheet metal work. On July 5, 1921, the committee authorized Mr. Rundall to establish an auto-repair course. As no funds were available, the class was not started until September, 1922. Upon the death of Mr. Rundall in 1940, Mr. Thom- as G. Doyle was appointed director. At that time, the school had an enrollment of thirty-two students. ln June, 1942, Mr. Joseph P. Gilligan was appointed director-. Under his wise and capable guidance, and with the whole-hearted cooperation of the faculty the school has grown by leaps and bounds until to- day it has grown to a number of approximately three hundred and fifty students. In September of 1943 the Machine Drafting course was set up in the Kennedy Building with Mr. Charles E. Matte, our present assistant director, in charge. In April, 1944, the physical education program was set up in the Kennedy Building. In that same year, the school was moved to the Giesow Building. Due to limited facilities, some of the academic classes were conducted in the Lincoln School. lt was during this year that the school dept. authorized changing the name of the school to the Diman Vocational High School. In September of 1945, the electrical course was set up in the Giesow Building. Due to the increasing enrollment and the trades taught, the school moved in its entirety to its present location on Hartwell Street in 1946. The present Diman Vocational High School represents years of effort on the part of Mr. Gilligan and the faculty, to provide a well-rounded education, for its students, and is a fitting tribute to the vision of its founder, the Reverend Dom John H. Diman. During the passing years, the faculty has increased until now there is a total of twenty-one instructors. With the installation of more and better equipment, the student body has also increased. There is no doubt, that at the rate Diman is growing, it will someday be considered one of the most outstanding high schools of its kind. May it continue to grow in the future, as it has in the past! 7

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DIMAN VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS REV. DOM, JOHN HUGH DIMAN, O.S.B. Erudite scholar . . . Inspired youth- ful minister and teacher . . . Bene- factor of education for all . . . Un- faltering patriot of his country . . . Beloved Christian character . . . Humble priest of God . . . Founder of Diman Vocational High School. SAINT GEORGE'S SCHOOL, MIDDLETOWN, R. I. PRIORY, PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH, R. I.

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WALTER MARKHAM TO THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 1955 OF THE DIMAN VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: You are indeed a fortunate group of young Americans, who have had the oppor- tunity to be educated and trained, not only in the traditional and conventional academic subjects in your high school course, but you have also received specialized training in the trade of your choice which will be the sound foundation on which you will build your life's work. By now you know it is a privilege and an honor to be educated as an American and to have the freedom of choice for your vocation in life. The vocational competency that you have acquired will enable you to take your rightful place among the skilled tradesmen of this great nation. Never forget to take and maintain pride in your ability as a craftsman. Today, our very existence depends on your generation of skilled artisans to combat the efforts of those who would destroy us. ln addition to your craft skills, your academic and extracurricular education has taught you to think critically and honestly, to respect every man, and to recognize the value of each man's work. To be able to do this today is a real accomplishment, espe- cially when there are so many interesting, confusing, and rapidly changing events of history being recorded. Finally, your education, a combination of skills and knowledge, has taught you to have confidence in our form of Government, a Government that still allows each and every man an equal opportunity to make the rules and regulations by which he lives. Continue to pattern your life to those rules so that you will recognize honor and truth, uphold iustice and tolerance, and be loyal to your God, your country, your trade, and to yourself, yourself most of all. May l congratulate you on your successful completion of this milestone, your grad- uation, on your pathway of life. Hold your head and your trade up high. Remember always, a true and faithful worker is one of God's noblemen. Sincerely yours, Walter Markham-Director Director, Division of Vocational Education Department of Education.