Evening star., 1898-07-09
BUSINESS EDUCATION.

BUSINESS EDUCATION.
Secretary Gage of the Treasury Dis
cusses the Theme.
Not even an address by the Secretary Of
the Treasury was a drawing card at the
first session of the business section held
in the Academy of Music yesterday after
noon. for when President Springer of the
University of Michigan raped for order
there were but few present President
Springer excused the non -attenders by say
ing the teachers were no doubt appreciat
Ing the educational advantages offered by
the points of interest in and about the
city.
In his annual address President Springer
olscoufsed at some length upon the ne
cessity for and benefits derived from a
business education. The chief purpose of
any education, he said, should be to pre-
pare the student for intelligent citizenship.
He would not slight classical education,
but 1t Is so difficult to convince the masses
or the advantages of a college education
that he believed a four years course of
commercial learning in practical branches
will ultimately supersade the present cur
riculum. The value of such an education
to the individual and the community can
not De oVereStimated.
The course should be equal in value to
that now offered for professional training.
The form of education should be different
from that now offered oy business colleges.
1t may not make a finished business man,
but should incuIcate principles the knoWl-
edge of which will give the possessor pow
Or to grasp an important situation and ap
preciate his duties as a citizen.
President Springer favored the mingling
OF few classical with commercial SUBJ
5ects, and advocated the same number CT
recitation hours as now prevail in colleges.
There should be no derogation in quality
of appliances or qualifications of profess
ors. Mr.. Springer expressed the hope that
the work along this line now peing done
in the Wharton School of the University Of
pennsylvania would be sufficient to war
rant its extension to every college and
university in the country.
Secretary Cages Address.
Secretary Gage was introduced by Mr.
X Z. Spencer of Milwaukee as "a type of
the American man developed by the free
institutions of the United States
In any education, said Mr.. Cage there
are three important parties commemorative
educator, the educated and the public
What reasonable expectations NAV we
nave OF each? There is practically moth
ing in education from the financial point of
view for the teacher or the school. For the
teacher there is much anxiety, worry, lack
OF appreciation, and even evidence of in
gratitude. But this is not the only result
OF the teachers patient labor. There is the
sweet assuring consciousness that one is
working all the while to make the world
wiser and better. This is the instructors
cheering reward.
Considering business education especially
the Secretary said that distinct branch
OF learning it had until recently received
very scant notice. 1t has since been given
its proper place and ranks now as one of
the most useful and important branches
Man is considered for what he is in him
self. Is he honest? Can he create and CO.
ordinate? Has he power to mold the forces
of nature to the best advantage of himself
and his fellow men? These determine the
degree of his acceptability to American
social life The originators of business edu-
cation had tremendous difficulties to over
come, but the roads they have opened will
never be closed.
Four branches of Education.
There four branches of education,
said Mr. Gage-manual training relating to
the training of the hand and eye; business,
represented in our commercial schools and
colleges, and dealing with trade and COM
merce; scientific, teaching the laws of ma
ture and their rela in physics and
chemistry, and classical. giving instruction
in history, art and literature. All these
courses aid in the advancement of the
mind and in the progress of man toward
comprehending his own powers and his
lation to his felloW-men. We should all be
more or less familiar with the subject
taught in each of these branches. 1t is bet
ter that many should be moderately edu-
Gated than a few superlatively
Passing to the direct consideration of the
question, The Reasonable EXpe citations of
a Business Education" Secretary Gage said
the public has right to expect from the
graduates of business schools and colleges
thorough, theoretical knowledge OF all the
machinery by which real business life is
carried on. We have right to expect that
the young man or young woman will go
from these schools with his her moral
conception of the truth Increased ard
strengthened. We have the right to ex-
pect better citizenship, a higher man
hood, a nobler moral character. But there
IC
the schools to furnish That is innate abil-
ity Institutions of learning only go SO
far as to prepare the student to meet the
requirements of the larger opportunities of
life. With business education more general
We may expect less waste in the edminis-
tration of public and private affairs The
worlds work will be better done and indi-
yidual life dignified and exalted by higher
ideals, and purer ethics will tend more and
more to reach that high plane, which we
may well believe it to be the purpose of
God that We all attain.
Model Business Course
j. NJ. Mehan of Des Moines, Iowa, gave
his views OF model business college
course. He strongly advocated some def
mite standard for the business college to up-
hold and deprecated rivalry among public
schools as one Of the most detrimental
features in educational administration.
Prof. Emory Johnson of the University of
Pennsylvania spoke of business education
in the high school, advoca ting a more dis
tinct recognition of the business course
The high school curriculum at present he
said, does not appeal to boys with business
ambitions as strongly 1t should In
order that the high school may attain that
measure of development which will enable
1t to fulfill the educational functions which
1t ought to exercise, it must include within
It's instruction those studies which are
needed by the boys and girls who are enter
Ing the business callings.
LIP READING.
interesting Exhibit by Deaf Mutes at