THE LAWRENCE PRIZES. AT a meeting of the School Committee, held on the 20th of August, 1844, the Hon. Wm. J. Hubbard submitted the following communication, which he had received from the Hon. Abbott Lawrence. BOSTON, August 14, 1848. - MY DEAR SIR: My son informed me, on my return from Newport, last evening, to which I return this afternoon, that you had called for the purpose of asking a donation from me to aid in creating a fund which will produce ninety dollars per annum, to be distributed in medals, books, &c., among those pupils of the High School who may excel in the various branches of learning taught in that valuable institution. I beg to present to you my thanks for the opportunity afforded me of bearing testimony to the high estimation I have always placed upon all our public schools, and the interest I still entertain for their prosperity. The system of Free Schools in New England I deem one of our chief glories; and upon the preservation of that system rests, in a great measure, the permanency of our civil and religious institutions. I have not time to say more, but beg to place at the disposal of yourself and other members of the Committee, the sum of two thousand dollars, which, I presume, will be ample to carry out the plan you have indicated. I pray you, dear Sir, to accept the assurances with which I remain Your friend and servant, Hon. WILLIAM J. HUBBARD. ABBOTT LAWRENCE. The next year, at a meeting of the School Committee, on the 5th day of August, 1845, the following communication, addressed to B. A. Gould, Esq., for many years the distinguished head of the Public Latin School, was laid before the Board by the Chairman, Hon. Thomas A. Davis. BOSTON, July 26, 1845. MY DEAR SIR: I am not unmindful of the conversation held with you at the Exhibition of the Latin School, last year, in regard to the great benefits to be derived from the distribution of rewards and prizes among the pupils, for scholarship, industry, and good conduct. The ability and fidelity with which you discharged your duties while Principal of the Latin School for many years, and the interest you have manifested in its prosperity since you retired from it, have induced me, without apology, to address you with reference to the subject of our conversation. I am, as you well know, deeply impressed with the necessity of not only maintaining the system of popular education as wisely established by our fathers, but of adopting such improvements as the advancement of science, the arts and literature requires to meet the wants of the age in which we live. The Latin School of this city is an institution on which our fellow citizens of the present day look with pride and satisfaction, and which has been cherished with affection and confidence for more than two centuries. I consider this school as the fountain of classical education among us, from which streams of knowledge flow, that enrich the mind, and elevate the New England character. I have a desire to offer to my fellow citizens a testimonial of the respect I entertain for classical knowledge, and especially for this school, which has been, and is now, so nobly sustained by them. I beg, therefore, through you, to present to the City of Boston, in trust, the sum of two thousand dollars, the interest of which, as nearly as may be, shall be expended annually, forever, (under the direction of the sub-committee having charge of the Public Latin School of Boston), in prizes, for the best performances in the various branches of literature and science taught in that institution; and in such other rewards for excellence and industry as may be thought best calculated to promote the object and true interests of education, and to keep alive a spirit of generous emulation and literary ardor through the several departments and all the different grades of said school. It is not my wish that the whole of said interest should be expended in prizes for abstract or comparative excellence, which would naturally fall to the most talented and most advanced scholars; but that a portion should be appropriated to the reward of those whose industry and diligent application manifest a desire to improve, though the least gifted by nature; and also a portion for good conduct in general, embracing moral rectitude and gentlemanlike deportment. It is my desire that the subjects for prizes be so arranged and distributed as to operate on all the classes of the school, the lowest as well as the highest. The master of the school is requested to propose to his pupils the various prize subjects for the year as early as practicable, and always within one month after the August vacation, annually. And, in awarding the prizes, he is to act under the advice of the sub-committee of his school, and after consultation with such other gentlemen and learned persons as he may see fit. The interest of the fund is to be paid to the chairman of the sub-committee of the Public Latin School for the time being. I pray you to believe, dear Sir, I remain Your friend and obedient servant, TO BENJ. A. GOULD, ESQ., Boston. The foregoing letters, noble testimonies alike to the wisdom, good judgment and benevolence of their author,— show the origin and purpose of the Lawrence Prizes. On the receipt of each of these letters, with the accompanying donation, a vote was passed presenting the thanks of the School Board to Mr. Lawrence, ordering the prizes to be designated as the "Lawrence Prizes," and to be distributed in accordance with the expressed wishes of the founder. It is believed that these wishes have always been observed in the assignment of the prizes. No record, either at the Public Latin, or the English High School, has been kept of the names of those to whom they have been assigned. Such record will probably be kept hereafter. The following letter from Mr. Sherwin will show the manner in which, in conjunction with the Committee on the English High School, he has endeavored to discharge the trust. The same general principles have been observed in the distribution of these prizes at the Latin School. ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL, March 20, 1858. DEAR SIR: In reply to your inquiry, "What pupils have received Lawrence Prizes in the English High School?" I would say, that I have not kept a record of the names. I might, perhaps, make up a catalogue approximately correct, but an imperfect list would be worse than none. - In the distribution of these prizes, I have aimed to make the stimulus act upon the greatest number, and to reward, as far as possible, all the students that put forth their best endeavors. I have, also, according to the request of Mr. Lawrence, distributed prizes for gentlemanly character and deportment, independently of decided scholarship. The studies of each class are arranged in two general divisions, — scientific and literary. For excellence in either one of these divisions, — in essays, or in declamation, a pupil may receive a prize. But, by an amicable arrangement among the scholars, no one, however distinguished, can receive at the same time a prize in both of the general divisions. Prizes are also given, although not proposed, for merit in departments of study not required in the school, such as the higher mathematics, for example. Hence it follows that the number of prizes given is quite considerable. I think that forty or more have been distributed annually, so that the list for thirteen years would present a pretty long array. I shall, however in future, preserve a list. Very truly and respectfully, Your obedient servant, THOMAS SHERWIN. REV. DR. LOTHROP, Chairman of Committee of English High School. |