Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-20

In addition TO the many other objections that
exist against the system Of prizes in schools
and colleges. is the fact that il almost eatirely
fails TO accomplish the object Intended The
design for prizes for scholarship Is to stimulate
the pupils generally. and raise the standard Of
application industry, and attainment of
entire classes and schools. The practical effect
however is confined to but few, and these fe ~
are those very pupils, who do not need any
sucn Inducements. and are usually Injured
rather than benefited by them. When it is an
nounced TO a class that prize is TO be given 10
the one who shall make the most nearly per-
fect recitatons, or shall pass the best examina-
uon. large part of the class at once say to
themselves that they cannot possibly succeed,
and mat II would be Of no more use for them TO
Try than to attempt journey to the moon, and
% refuse TO enter the list; the indolent and I'M
ambitious. although they are conscious Of
latent power and feel that they might stand a
good chance of succeeding IL they would only
make contp ued and persistent effort, even
when they commence the contest, soon fall
out by the way, and before long the strife Is
narrowed down to a very few, and usually to
no more than two or three. When several
prizes are offered, the number Of competitors is
greater, becauee there are studious and aspir.
ing pupils, who would study closer and strive
harder tor the sake of distin ction, but such are
not the ones who need the stimulus, and the
rank and file are not affected. This reasoning
applies In most cases. 1t applies where pre-.
mIums are offered for proficiency in ali
branches, In mathematics, IMPOSITION, or dec
lamation. But penmanship affords an excep.
uon Here the weak stand an equal chance
with the strong. In this branch prizes are
usually awarded for the greatest improvement.
and not for the highest excellence and, conse
quently, the poorest penman has even a better
prospect of winning than the best, because there
Is the most room for improvement in his case.
III corresponding system could be applied
70 otner branches, the objection under consld.
efanon would be removed, in q great degree
Du' 'nis never mas been done. and is probably
utterly improbable. single honest speci-
men OF penmanship at the commencement OF a
course of lessons. and another at its close fur
nish data for a comparatively easy decision a.
TO improvement. Such, however is not the
case IA other branches. A pupil at commenc-
ing geometry, for instance, knows nothing
aoout ". IL would De impossible to decide
rom specimens, which one of a school Of ffty
pupils had made the most progress in compo-
sitIon during year
The lrishman said that he and another man
srticed The OK out of the field-that the other
man went before the animal with a measure of
OATS and he went behind him with a hay-fork
and thus they enuced him out. Analogous in,
ducements are presented to classes and schools
Rewards are applied TO the first scholars and
PENALTIES TO those ranking last. 1t is not often
nat these penalties are undeserved, for tn
ast proficient pupils are almost inyarjsblv
en-, because OF inartention and Incidence
y her than from want OF natural ability, but
hese could be enticed by the oats instead OF
he nsy-fork, much would be gained Untll a /!
ysa I'm OF prizes shall be 50 framed as in its !
rat ueai application to incite those who nee /
uch ssnmnlns, and would ba benefited by it,
!, e s1pedirney. to say nothing Of the mora
Zee V Oh distributing prizes in schools aud
Neg, :, Is at least questionable. and II NAV ne
IA, sur city fathers do notdeserve censure for
egiect:pg l provide premi ums for the pupils
, The publ,c chools