New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-26
Ner-London, Conn, Sept. Is, 1874.
PRIZES AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
. A NEED OF PRIZES TO INFERIOR PUPHs-srIMULUS
10 Observation-Disclosures OF BRINGING UP

A NEED OF PRIZES TO INFERIOR PUfllo-oii'i'N''
10 UIPROvEMENT-MErHoD OF BRINGING UP
THE REAR"
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: AS the schools are opening, allow
me 10 offer a suggestion to the giving OF prizes IL Is
frequently remarked that prizes tend TO stimulate most
strongly those children who have the least need OF ana
can least bear such stimulation; every experienced
teacher has observed incidental evils resulting IAose
who need stimulating those who are at the Oo'toh
of the class The matter brought 10 my attention
I'm visiting large primary department in one of our
public schools Winter when at the request Oh the
princpal, gave out the certificates OF merit Ihere
were 700 boys in the and one after another those
who stood the upper grades in their classes 10 the
number OF about 30O were called forth ny name 10 re-
ceve their scrolls; and them instead OF returning 10
their seats took mp their position around the ROOM
each with his badge of honor in his hands This LETT III
their seats residuum of the poorer scholars, and the
ignorant and troublesome. The sight OF this NUMBER
OF unsuccessful ones impressed me strongly Here,
thought /. those who have been SICK those
who have become discouraged, those who are little
hard of hearing little dull OF sight those VINO nave
no help at home in their studies and those VINO are de
graded by parents Ignorance vice. Here are those
who are truant and those who have become entanSed
in the small vices OF the street accordingly told them
that was going TO offer prizes to the bad boys,
that is TO say prizes those boys who during the com
ing term should make the greatest improvement ana
a bad had great deal of room for improvements
the worst boys would take the prizes II they maze
Gent effort The prizes were not TO be osentatous IN
value, but consisted OF such articles as " Robinson
Crusoe" Esop's Fables" base balls and bats ana the
like and were enough in number TO make the nope
OF attaining one reasonably common -,
At the end of the had the gratihcaton OF learn
ing from the principal that my expectations were
realized and several Of the boys who had previously
been the troublesome we're found TO nave taken
the prizes. The first prize was taken by boy VINO II
recollect Alright, had previously been marked 90 In
scale OF 100 and successive months he rose steadily 10
TO- 49, 49, and 95 at which point he had STOOD Tor TWO or
more successive months when the prizes were awarded
The record the others very similar and equally
marked in improvements and learned that the lnlu-
ence upOn the of the scholars IN the same direction
had been clearly noticeable.
There are some difficulties in the application OF the
principle have suggested, but 1t Is PLAIN that 10 can
be successfully It's influence will be greatly Tor the
efficiency of and for the perfecrg OF ITS or
ganization. Few probably add so much TO the
difficulties OF teachers the struggling scholars who
stand lowest the class. IL is the mark OF good Gen
era to bring up the rear and in such organizations as
our public schools the whole body cannot get Tar IN al
vance OF the hindermOst. Whatever can be done 10
bring up tho straggers will be Of quite as much service
to individuals and to the organization az would any ell
forts 10 urge on those who are already in advance
Ner- York, Sept. ~, 1874 AUSTIN ABBoiI'