Durfee High School - Durfee Record Yearbook (Fall River, MA)

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SUPERI TE DENT'S MESSAGE TU THE MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATION CLASS OF THE B. M. C. DURFEE HIGH SCHOOL: One of the happier tasks of the Superintendent of Schools is associated with the privilege of congratulating high school graduates. From the perusal ol' the records ot' the City of Fall River, it would appear that there have been almost one hundred graduating classes from the Fall River high school. This simple statement may give you some idea of the long: and honorable tradition to which you now belong. Traditions, when they are good, as this one is. are something' in which to take great pride. From this comes guidance and encourage- ment of a high order. Like those who have prone hefore you, and like those who will come after you. you will enter an adult world which expects from you great things in the way ol' achievement and leadership. The success or failure of a community can he measured no more readily than in the quality of its educated young people. What you do and what you become will he the criterion ol' the greatness of Fall River, the success of our nation's ideals, and, lo no small extent, the worthiness ol' your generation. No one needs to point out to you that these are parlous times. lt follows then that to your general responsihilities as high school graduates will go the yery specific ones of persons leaving: childhood in a liatlline' llllll-l.NVQlll,l0ll1 century. Knowing' the environment in which you have spent. the last four years, l am confident that we can look to you hopefully and that your youth and zeal will serve as well-springs of decency and attainment from which all oi' us can draw the goodness and godliness which the world needs. May the good lilc and the happy one he yours. My very hest wishes. Sincerely yours. I SlIfIl'l'lIIlt'lllll'Ill of Schools.

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DEDIBEITIUII Many ol' us first saw him as the scholarly gentleman who came to our grammar school one day, advised us about the various courses in il. M. C. Durfee High School, and urged us to choose the curriculum which would best prepare us to attain our goal in life. lllost of us knew him as our class advisor in the sophomore year and as vice-president in the Technical building. Some of us knew him then as a disciplinarian, when, tardy or truant or guilty of infractions ol' other school rules, we presented ourselves before him to be ad- monished-or punished. All too few of us have known him as a teacher. For good or l'or ill. his beloved Latin lV has been removed from the category of required in the academic course, and though many have acquired the funda- mentals of the language in a year or two, few have persevered to the fourth year class, where reading the Aeneid with him becomes more a pleasure than fulfillment of a task imposed. Sitting with him as he expounds the literal meaning of the text ami then translates the words of one of the world's greatest poets into a philosophy of life, one senses that this, after his love of wife and children, is the great love of his life, Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundisf' he reads, and then translates, 'tEndure to the end and re- serve yourselves for better fortunes. Or, Stunt sua praemia laudi ees Worth finds its due reward. Leaving school to make our way in the world, what better advice could we take with us? This has been his life - teaching - inspiring his pupils through the medium of thoughts beautifully expressed in a language regarded for centuries as symbolic of culture, yet as modern and practical as our law and our sciences, which resort to it for their terminology. The Class of 1951 eonsiclers 'l'lflf1J7'7l't7'llCQ6 to clecllcale this, 'lls Record Book, to Ralph M. Siaallef- ifice-prirz,c1'pa,l, counselor, teacher QfLatlae e teacher of boys and girls.

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PRINCIPAUS MESSAGE 'llo the tllziss of liP5li Today everyone is devoting considerable time to thinking and talking about world, country, and local conditions. After the conclusion of a major war, with young people making the greatest sacrifices, youth naturally envisioned a long era of enjoyment of peace. But these hopes were quickly blasted because, now, only a few years after the last catastrophe, most of the world is threatened with another major war. Russia and its satellites, exponents ot' communism, seem to be preparing definitely for a third major conflict against the United States and other democratic nations advocating freedom of thought, word, and deed in their governments, Recent investigations, publicized by p1'ess, radio, and television, have revealed despicable traitors, deceitful politicians, crooked gamblers, and notorious criminals and have awakened millions of citizens to a greater realization of many contemptiblc conditions existing right here in our own country. You, tlie graduates of this year, are apt to feel that you are going out to a wicked world, and to a degree, you are right. But you should know that, like the poor, you always have the selfish and unscrupulous with you. These investigations have merely brought some of the notorious, wicked people from their hiding into the limelight. You should know that for every one of these lowly creatures there are thousands of courageous and honest people striving to help their fellowmen and to make this country a better place in which to live. So graduates, on this commencement day blot out, at least temporarily, the black picture and look into the brightness of the tremendous amount of righteousness existing in the world. Strive to do your part by developing your potentialities of initiative and respon- sibility in combatting evil and doing good and thus assure yourselves of a full and worthwhile life. I heartily congratulate every one of you on your successful completion of youl senior high school work and sincerely hope for your success and happiness in youl future life. 7 ef