West High School - Westerdays Yearbook (Pawtucket, RI)

Page 8 text:

Dear Class of 1948: Three years ago when you enrolled in the Pawtucket West Senior High School most of you had ideals and ambitions. Some wanted a high school education because they knew that only those who held a high school diploma would be eligible to hold desirable positions. Perhaps their ideal boy or ideal girl was already in high school and they were ambitious to follow in his footsteps; some of you wished to participate in high school athletics; some came because their parents saw the need of a high school education; and others came because they were not yet sixteen years of age and the law required them to be in school. Most of those in the last group left school on their sixteenth birthday; others left because the money they could earn was needed by their family; others who came to please their parents but had no desire for education gave up and went to work. The ambitions of many reached beyond high school into the realms of college. They knew that high school was the prepara- tion for college. Their ideal young man or young woman was a college student and this thought spurred them on through high school. Their hearts may have been set on becoming nurses or teachers; doctors or lawyers; engineers or laboratory technicians. All these vocations called not only for high school diplomas but superior high school records and college educa- tion. A high precentage of you must have had a goal in view for something higher than holding a good job after graduation. If it were not so, why should 60 members of your class of 228 earn sufficiently high grades to entitle them to membership in the Rhode Island Honor So- ciety? High ideals coupled with diligence and tenacity of purpose must have been responsible. Members of the Honor Society are not the only members of your class for whom we pre- dict success in life. There are a large number who almost made the grade but circumstances over which they had no control prevented the desired honor. From this group we are expect- ing success in the professional fields. What do we expect from the rest of you who seemed satisfied not to do the certificate work required for entrance to college? We expect you to enter the business and industrial world and be suc- cessful men and women. You had to do passing work in order to earn diplomas; many of you participated in sports and were the backbone of your varsity teams; many chose other forms of school activities and were leaders in their groups; others for various reasons worked after school and on Saturdays. All of you have been gaining experience which will make you leaders in the vocation of your choice. You have been acquiring an avocation too, which all need for a well rounded life. In West High you have been learning to work and play together and get along with your associates. You have learned to respect people for what they are and not for race, color or creed. You have been educating yourselves to take your place in a Democracy. In the years to come, see that you continue your efforts to serve yourselves and your country by making the most of your opportunities for further edu- cation and by striving for peace at home and abroad. Only peace will bring the happiness I wish for you. Chester M. Dascombe, Principal 4

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rJjcciica tion Miss Mary J. McKitchen, a member of the history department and faculty advisor of the Student Council, has unselfishly devoted herself to helping the students both as a classroom teacher and as the guiding force behind many of the school’s outstanding programs. It has been through her untiring efforts that the Student Council has so competently sponsored many events which the students will never forget in the years to come. In recognition of her many helpful deeds, we, the Class of 1948, gratefully dedicate our boo to Miss Mary J. McKitchen. 3

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Jltt iflt'uutricut Major Timothy . Crawley was one of the teachers assigned to West High when the school opened eight years ago. He joined the Army in 1942 and was commissioned in the Transportation Corps in 1943. He passed to his eternal reward at Walter Reed General Hospital. September 23, 1947. To the memory of this fine teacher, outstanding citizen, and youthful hero, the Class of 1948 lovingly and respectfully presents this page. 5