["Melbourne Hebrew School", The Argus (Melbourne), Monday 01 February 1875, page 6]
The first annual distribution of prizes to the pupils of the Melbourne Hebrew School took place yesterday afternoon at the Bourke-street Synagogue.
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Mr Louis Ellis, hon. secretary of the school, read a short report which stated that in the early part of 1874 when the state school system was established, the Melbourne Hebrew school became an absolute appanage of the Hebrew congregation and was opened to children of both sexes on payment of a small sum per month for tuition. After mentioning the names of several gentlemen who had offered special prizes for various subjects it went on to say that the total number of children attending the school was--boys 122, girls 30--making a total of 158. The fees received during the year had been totally inadequate to meet tho expenses and immediate steps were necessary to enable the sehool board to extend the benefits of the establishment.
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Special Prizes.
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Second best Hebrew Scholar (presented by Mr A. Waxman).--Abraham Davis.
...Jane Davis, best in Hebrew of the girls,..
...improvement in grammar, Abraham Davis,..
Boy most regular in attendance during 12 months, Albert Cohen; girl do., Jane Davis.
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Master Joel Fredman, the dux of the school, then presented the head-master, Mr. Smyth, B.A.C.E., on behalf of the pupils, a handsome papier-mache inkstand as a mark of their respect.
Mr. Smyth, having expressed his gratification at receiving such a testimonial, said the school from its infancy had maintained its prestige among the schools of the colony. The Government inspectors had always reported favourably of it, and the percentage of averages had always been greater than in any other school in Victoria. Independent of the Hebrew curriculum, which was of a very high order, the standard for other subjects was the same as was adopted in the state schools, besides which other subjects were taught.
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