H. S. S. Lawrence

Harris Sam Sahayam Lawrence (ஹாரிஸ் சாம் சஹாயம் லவ்றேன்சே; 28 July 1923 – 21 April 2009 ) was an Indian educationalist born in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu.

Lawrence was a student of the Intermediate classes of the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, during 1939–1941.

His subjects were English, Tamil, Ancient History, Modern History and Logic.

He went to college at the College of Fine Arts Trivandrum and obtained a B.A. Honours in History and Economics.

In search of employment, Lawrence went to Chennai, where he worked for YMCA Marina Canteen and Swimming Pool from September 1944 to September 1947.

Lawrence was selected for the Overseas Scholarship Scheme sponsored by the Government of India and obtained a place at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, which he attended from September 1948.

Specialising in teacher education, he stayed until September 1950 and completed MA and Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) degrees.

Introduced practicals for BEd students in education subjects.

Lectured on Educational Psychology and Educational Sociology.

A Tamil Pandits Training Course was introduced in the College in 1961.

The Pandits had general education in Tamil Literature but no knowledge of pedagogy of teaching and learning.

Planned and implemented a sound program of student teaching for students in several high schools of Vellore.

Dr Rajendra Prasad, President of India, accompanied by Shri K Kamaraj, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu visited Vellore for inaugurating a school improvement conference.

On the way, the car stopped in front of the College and as Principal, Lawrence had the rare privilege of garlanding him.

Mrs Lourdammal Simon, Minister for Local Administration, Dr Brand, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Dr Roy Ebenezer, Ophthalmologist, Swamy Kripananda Varier, Swamy Chinmayananda graced the functions of the college.

The State Institute of Education, was founded by Dr. Lawrence in 1965 as the "academic wing" of the Education Department for research, innovations, in-service training, extension work, and publications.

A quarterly journal in English and monthly in Tamil were also newly introduced.

The State Institute of Education later developed into the State Council of Education, Research and Training (SCERT) and now, as the Directorate of Teacher Education, Research and Training (DTERT) with all the teacher training institutes under it.

As Founder-Director, Lawrence had laid the proper foundations.

In charge of the whole gamut of primary and secondary education as well as teacher training in 3 districts.

Supervised the work of the District Educational Officers and Deputy Inspectors of Schools.

Undertook tremendous improvements of infrastructure in schools and oversaw the enrolment of students, the increase in the number of Mid-day Meal centres, organizing school improvement conferences and progress of literacy programs.

Lawrence had the rare privilege of welcoming and accompanying Valentina Tereshkova of U.S.S.R., a Soviet cosmonaut, the first woman to travel into space at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.

Government of Afghanistan and the Director General of UNESCO approved of Dr.Lawrence's candidature for appointment as Expert in Primary Teacher Training at the Academy for Teacher Educators, Charikar, Afghanistan under the UNESCO – UNICEF Joint-Project from 28 May 1969.

As Special Officer for restructuring Educational Pattern in Tamil Nadu and as Director of School Education, Lawrence planned and implemented the All India 10+2+3 pattern of education in 1978.

As Special Officer for restructuring Educational Pattern in Tamil Nadu and as Director of School Education, Dr. Lawrence planned and implemented the All India 10+2+3 pattern of education in 1978.

As "Founder Chairman of the Board of Higher Secondary Education", he established Higher Secondary Education on sound foundations that even rural students could undertake 12 years of education without difficulty.

This is unique in India and the last 30 years have shown it as a highly successful pattern of education.

Hence Dr. Lawrence is regarded to be the "Architect of Higher Secondary Education in Tamil Nadu".

Lawrence as Director of School Education brought the few Matriculation schools affiliated to Madras and Madurai Universities under a separate Board of Matriculation Schools with him as Chairman.

Today the number of Matriculation Schools has grown to over 2200.

Lawrence is regarded to be the Founder Chairman Board of Matriculation Schools.

During 1993–1994, Lawrence was Chairman of a High Level Committee on Vocational Education, constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, and solved the long-standing problem of salaries for the vocational teachers by raising it and installed a strong management structure for Vocational Education in Tamil Nadu.

He was conferred the title of "Father of Vocational Education in Tamil Nadu".

Lawrence wrote his autobiography called The Hand of God My Life and Times, published in 2004.

Lawrence was the eldest of five children born to Sam and Arulammal Harris.

He came from Santhapuram, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, and was named after John Lawrence and Henry Lawrence, two brothers one of whom was the Viceroy.

Lawrence was raised as a Christian.

When he was nine years old, his mother died unexpectedly.

He was educated firstly at the Home Church Elementary School and then at the Scott Christian English High School, both in Nagercoil.