National Republican., 1883-07-11
BUSINESS EDUCATORS.
A Convention Of Representatives Of Commercial
Colleges.
Pencil Sketches Of Some OF the Prominent
Educators Present.

Inc 0tth annual meeting OF the National
Business Educators association took place
yesterday in the rooms Of the Spencerian
business college, in Lincoln hall. The fol-
lowing members answered to the roll call. A.
d. Wilt, Dayton, Ohio; Prof C. f. Cady,
principal of Cady's Metropolitan Business COL
lege, New York; Prof. Smith, Lexington KY;
Prof Frank Goodman, principal of the Nash
vile Business college; Prof A. II. Hinman,
principal of Humans Business college, Wor-
cester, Mass; Prof d. T. Ames, editor Of the
Penmdn's Art Journal; Mr.. II. A. Spencer, New
York City; Prof. G. w. Michael principal OF
blichael's Pen Art hall, Oberin, Ohio; Hon.
Ira Mahen, Detroit, Mich; Prof. S. S. Packard,
principal of Packards Business college,
New York; Prof. G. H. Pierce, principal Busi-
ness college, Keokuk, Iowa; Prof. Robert C..
Spencer, president of the Milwaukee Business
college; Prof @. p. Meads, Meadss Business
college, New York; Prof. w. II. Sadler,
Bryant & Stratton's Business college, Balti-
more; Prof L. T. Rogers, Business Univer-
sity, Rochester, N. Y; Miss Lottie Hill of
Packards New York City Business college I;
Mrs. d. 7. Ames aud Mrs. A. H. Hinman.
The association was called to order by Presi-
dent A. ID. Wilt. On motion of II. C. Spencer,
Prof. q. E. Cady was appointed to report the
proceedings of the meeting and superntend
their publication.
A letter was read from Mahlon J. Woodruff
favoring the establishment of the Platt r.
Spencer memorial library at Geneva, OH
The letter contained an eloquent tribute 20
Mr.. Spencer's devotion to the cause of bust
ness education. Communications on the same
subject were received from Prof Jay p Treat
and Mr.. p. w. Tuttle.
Messrs. Packard, Saddler, and Mayhew wore
appointed committee to draft suitable reso-
lutions relating to the establishment of the
Platt H. Spencer Memorial Hall and Library
association at Geneva, Ohio.
MIR. 5. s. Packard, of New Yark, spoke for
nm hour on the subject of the management of
business schools. He first gave a rapid
sketch of the history of business education
during the past thirty-five years, most of
which he has seen and much Of which he has
helped to make, and then took up the sub
Ject OF building up and conducting business
colleges. AS to systems of advertising, which
have so often come under the criticisms of
judicious persons, he said that there was no
reason why business college may not
present itself to the public as forcibly and
persistently as any business enterprise; and,
moreover, if advertising is proper in
its character, no one need feel
too thoroughly. Business education
is in itself wholesome idea, and what is
wholesome cannot be too strongly or persist
emily placed before the public. He had no.
ticed with unaffected pleasure the great i'm
provements in advertising which the past
few years has brought about. The periodicals,
for they had become that, which were now
regularly produced by reputable colleges,
were an honor not only to business education
but to journalism. Some of these beautiful
exponents which he had received he had pre-
served with pride as specimens of Typography,
OF journalistic taste, and of good English
language. And they gave evidence that the
patronage which they wero sure to pro-
mote would be properly cared for.
He drew the contrast between the
schools of thirty-fye years ago, when
the proprietors of competing institutions were
lmpacable enemies, and the educators of to-
day, who were in the best sense co-workers,
and who meet year after year in convention
and exchange views on all the vital questions
which enter into the domain of teaching.
Then there were not in all tho country over
300 students In the business schools. Now
there are moro than 100000 and the commits
'ioner of education is forced to give them a |
large amount of space in his annual reports. |
The business colleges had, in fact come to be |
regarded as, in an important sense, represent |
ing American education. He entered at |
length upon the liberal method of encouraging |
ne young men and women by fully recog-
nizing the best there was in them, and |
holding them to account only as men and |
women should be held TO account; and he laid |
great stress upon the benifcent effect of edu-
,ating the sexes together. He had had grave
ioubts at first as to the feasibility of this
'lan, but all doubts had long since vanished
nto thin air, and he could see no reason why
! large school should not be substantially a
arge family. Men and women have to meet
n all the relations of life and the more they
earn to measure each others intellectual
worth the better for both and for all. He
xtolled the teachers profession, and claimed
hat there was not a nober or more dignifed
title in all the world than that of schoolmas-
err that the man who showed himself
o be born teacher was Just
S divinely called to his work
IS any minister, in fact more so than many
II them. He drew attention to the fact that
mong the representatives present fifteen per-
ons at least had followed the profession for
twenty-five years on an average, and their
obust health and excellent appearance must
70 accepted as prima facie evidence that they
we're finding in their work not only recon-
ense in material way, but satisfaction
ute beyond that which rests on the accumu-
alton of money.
He alluded to the eminent men throughout
he land who had shown great zeal in the
FORK before them, and especially of Mr.. Gar
eld, whose glowing eulogium delivered be-
4
ollege in this city, in 1867, had become
lassical.
In conclusion he besought the members of
ne convention to be true to their good work,
nd not to forget that, as no man can live to
imself alone, it is noble thing to live for
theirs in the way of building them up in all
ood things. The teachers pay, however
mple, is not his best or his chief reward.
lis reward is in the happy consciousness of
nplanting sentiments in the hearts of his i
upils which will dominate their lives, and ,
hich Will bear fruit long after he has gone ,,
his rest.
When the association assembled at the !
-ternoon session President A. ID. Wilt deliy- ,
red a congratuatory address, in which he i
'xiewed the rise and progress of business !
'lleges, dwelling at length on the benefits to I
derived from a thorough training in the a
leory and practice of business. :
Prof. Osborn, of Rochester, in accordance
lth the prearranged programme, pointed /
IL some peculiar views on penmanship, and j
Vlted discussion, which was Joined in by
rois; hinman, Brown. Robert Spencer, God c
IN, Pierce, and Mrs Hinman. The debate r
lated purely to technical questions involved ii
the different systems of teaching penman- s.
lip. .
A resolution was adopted thanking Mr.. i,
,born for naming the subject for debate. "
The address of Prof Daniel II. Ames on the ~
pert examination of handwriting was one "
the most interesting features of the days ri
ogramme. In speaking of the peculiarities I,
individual handwriting, the professor n
id =
" 1t is the peculiar eccentricities of habit in "
10 l.. H.. 1. >