Boston Latin School, founded 1635, is the oldest school in America. Period. It is one of three exams in Massachusetts (the other two are Boston Latin Academy, formerly Girl’s Latin, and the John D. O’Bryant). But, as prestigious as the school is, there are still some things most people don’t know about good ol’ BLS.
Numerous Famous Dropouts
You might be surprised to learn that some of the most famous people we all learned about in our history classes didn’t graduate from Latin. A few names you may be familiar with:
Benjamin Franklin – Franklin spent only two years at the school before he dropped out. But hey, who needs a high school diploma when you’re one of the Founding Fathers of the United States?
William Lloyd Garrison – Garrison never finished his education at the Latin School, but still went on to be a successful journalist, social reformer and abolitionist.
Louis Farrakhan – Farrakhan, the head of the Nation of Islam, actually went on to graduate from English High School. English, however, was founded in 1821, making BLS almost 200 years older BUT (this is an insult to current Latin students, as well as alumni) English is often credited as being the oldest public high school in America. Hmm, yeah, that would be no.
All Boys for More Than 300 Years
Boston Latin didn’t begin admitting females until 1972. Until then, girls attended Girls Latin, which is now Boston Latin Academy. However, Girls’ Latin wasn’t founded until 1877. Latin Academy now admits 1,700 students each year, almost 1,000 students less than BLS’s 2,400.
Latin and English High have been battling it out in Thanksgiving Day football games every year since 1887. This rivalry between the two schools is the oldest continuously operated rivalry in the U.S. And it makes for a good retelling. At the Pep Rallies the day before Thanksgiving, a few students will act out the first game between Latin and English. Naturally, Latin wins every time.
Our Newspaper Win Awards
The Argo, first published in 1969, isone of two Latin School publications, the other being our literary magazine, the Register. It has won several journalistic awards:
1994 First Place New England Scholastic Press Association Competition
1996 Superior Achievement Award New England Scholastic Press Association
1996 Third Place Suffolk University High School Journalism Competition
1997 Superior Achievement Award New England Scholastic Press Association
1998 Superior Achievement Award New England Scholastic Press Association
2004 Highest Achievement Award New England Scholastic Press Association
Our “Hall of Fame” Hasn’t Had a Name Added Since 1999
Technically, it’s the “Wall of Fame” since the names are right below the ceiling in the school’s auditorium. The last name added was that of Wade H. McCree, Jr., the only person of color on the Wall. There are no women because females have only been attending the school for 34 years. But Mrs. Kelley, our out-going Head Master, likes to tell incoming classes of Sixies and Bsies (students that enter in the 7th and 9th grade) that they may be the last name on the wall, if they work hard enough.
Harvard College was founded in 1636, one year after BLS. Many people say that it is so that graduates of Latin had a place to continue their education that was nearby. Latin sends many students to Harvard each year. Out of a graduating class of over 300, the class of 2006 sent 36 students to Harvard – a school record.
Sumus Primi
This Latin phrase translates as “we are the first”. The motto applies to both the school’s age, and its academic status. Latin always ranks first on standardized tests (except for one year when a class of sophomores came in second or third on the MCAS).
That’s all for today folks. I’ll return with Part II of What You Didn’t Know About Latin School. Trust me – a school this old has got TONS of stuff people don’t know about it.
