Hope High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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Miss Florence H. Slack It is no unusual fact that, when a class reaches its senior year, there is no holding it back: seniors forget the rules and live dangerously for six solid months. Whether it is right to do so or not has no bearing on the fact that it happens every year and will happen for years to come. To the senior class and undergraduates this presents no problem, but to the teachers it offers a test of supreme self-control. All they can do is brace their shoulders, set their jaws. clench their fists, and step into the classroom to fight for fifty minutes. One teacher, however, who has overcome all odds and has gained a place in the hearts of every senior class for the past four decades is our own Miss Florence H. Slack. There is hardly a member of the June, '46, class who has not bathed in the warmth of her friendship or marveled at the soundness of her advice. ln her small, comfortable office anyone is welcome to enter and share a few friendly words and perhaps participate in a bit of foolishness. Though we take her for granted, we who are about to set out for ourselves may well take heed to the story of Miss Slack's success. It should serve as an example to those who still have their way to make. To use her own words, she was a mischievous little youngster who cared more for dramatics than dolls. ln fact, she used to use her dolls as an audience and perform before them. This serves to indicate that. even as a child, she was destined for a career in dramatics. When she had completed her schooling, she had graduated from the Bridgham Grammar School, English High, and Normal School. During that time she had studied dramatics for nine years with Frances Mosher. Her first position was at Providence Evening High, where she taught dramatics in 1897 and '98. ln 1898 she entered Hope as teacher of elocution. public speaking, and gymnasium. Prom 1902 to 1926 she divided her time among Hope, Technical, and Classical, and finally devoted all of her time to Hope. When the new building opened, she entered as coordinator. She defines that job as doing everything no one else wanted to do, and how well we know what that means-running assemblies, teas, and parties, directing plays, printing ad books, putting up with children, and needing a rest cure. Looking back on forty-eight years of teaching, Miss Slack remembers some of the stu- dents she taught who have since made their fortune in the world. Among these are Winthrop Aldrich, President of the Chace National Bank of New York: Judge McCabe of the Providence Juvenile Court: J. Harold Williams, Chief Scout Executive 3' Earl R. Davis, head of Davis and Davis Stock Exchange in New York: and Major General- William Chase, now in Tokyo. She still laughs when she recalls the time she sent Zacharia Chaffee out of class. He is now president of the Harvard Law School. When she gets time, she loves to travel and has followed the advice of her father diligently: Do and see a little each year: don't wait, or you will have nothing. Proof that her father's advice was not wasted lies in the fact that she has taken over five hundred people to Washington in eighteen trips, has been abroad six times and across the continent eight times. Even as today, her life then was filled with vitality and desire to help and work with people. And what do we, the class of June, 1946, owe her? It was she who befriended us when we entered as 1OB's: she who helped us plan and success- fully carry out our class affairs: she who directed our senior play and took charge of our graduation: she who worked and took no glory. What do we owe her? We owe her the glory that is rightfully hers. We owe her more thanks than we can express in words or writing. We owe her our undying friendship. Upon her graduation Miss Slack would like to spend her time work- ing in her garden and perhaps seeing a little more of this battered old world. To you, Miss Slack-classmate, councillor. and friend-we dedicate nothing but happiness, for happiness is the greatest of all gifts, but none too great for you.

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Our Official Hostess SHE GRADUATES AGAIN- SUMMA CUM LAUDI. SHE ARRIVES 3 - E 4 SHE GRADUATES l v P

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Every organization, in order to function efficiently, must have the co- operation of all its departments Thus it is with the Club 8:30. We are extremely proud of the fine spirit of unity that prevails at Hope. The English and foreign language departments are invaluable aids to all our guests, many of whom hail from foreign lands. In close conjunction with the language staff is the social studies division, that directs the inter- national relations of the club. The comfortable building owes its design and construction to the mathematics and science sections. The beautiful floral decorations are grown in our own conservatory. The wood-working, plastics, line arts, and home economics groups are responsible for the interior decora- tion and culinary Work. The talented group of performers who entertain at the club are products of the wonderful physical training course. All the book- keeping and stenographical work is done by our commercial department. Of course, the nerve center of the whole organization is the office and guidance staff, whose job it is to keep the Club 8:30 running smoothly. Office and Guidance First row, left ro right: Leo Weiss, Elmer Hussey, Dr. Howard D. Vvlood, Florence Slack, Mr. Frederick E. Hawkins, Louise Marren, Charles Annable. Second row: Alice Spotwood, Ruth Wells, Pauline Gray, Eileen Martin, Edna Macdonald, Alice Hildreth, Muriel Mellors, Marian Dyson, Mary Anderson, Sara Tully.