East High School - Redjacket Yearbook (Pawtucket, RI)

Page 12 text:

Mr. James P. McGeough Principal’s Message In ancient Rome, the Ides of March meant a day of reckoning. The Ides of March mean a day of reckoning in the United States, but to the principal of East High School, the Ides of March mean the dead line for his message to the Senior Class. To me, it is not a day of gloomy reckoning, but rather one of hope that I might impart to you a few ideas of value for your future life. So often during your school life you have heard the word Freedom”—Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom from Fear, Free- dom of Religion, Academic Freedom. We must be very careful not to take the use of the word Freedom” at its face value, because it may lead to license. Try, in your judgments, to go deeper than the surface—look well into things—always use a criterion, an unchanging standard, a yardstick, to evaluate those situations, those conditions, that are presented to us. The Divine Teacher once said, The truth will make you free.” In that statement I feel we have the criterion of freedom. Be true to your- selves, to your parents, to your church, to your community, to the laws of our great country. Only by holding to the truth, in spirit and in letter, will we be able to keep freedom from becoming license. I hope that in your years at East High School, each of you, while acquiring knowledge, has also endeavored to inculcate virtue into your character. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” according to the old adage, but knowledge with- out virtue is a most confusing thing. Thus it behooves us to develop within ourselves those virtues which manifested themselves in our fore- fathers and which helped to make this country the great country it is today. If you cannot continue your formal educa- tion, I urge you to improve yourselves at all times and in every way. Each of you in his own vocation is immensely important and necessary to the happiness of many people. As I have said many times, our personal happiness is but a reflection of our devotion and service to others. You have been a fine class, a grand class. I have no doubt you will set your sights high and bring great honor to East High School and eduring satisfaction to the faculty who have worked with you through the years. And now as you leave us remember these words—WORK HARD—PLAY HARD—PRAY HARD—and may God bless you all. —James P. McGeough