Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-11

COMMERCIAL EDrCATION.

With the growth Of commerce there is
increasing interest in education that
specially fits men for business career.
This is manifested in the commercial
nations of Europe to q most marked
degree and is developing in the United
States. Right Hon. James Bryce writes
most instructively on this subject in the
June North American Review. He says
commercial education may be described
as that branch Of technical instruction
which is concerned not so much with
the methods of production as with the
methods of distribution, with the pro-
cesses of sale and purchase. 1t is con-
cerned with them on their practical
side. Economic science investigates the
general laws which govern the OK
change of commodities. The art of
commerce deals with the practical
forms which the process of exchange
takes, shows the reasons for those
forms, explains how they ought to be
conducted and cultivates the various
talents which are needed to conduct
them with, efficiency and success.
Thirty or forty years ago, Mr.. Bryce
points out, it was not supposed, either
in England or in America, that any spe-
cial training was needed for business
life. Then the phrase, "a commercial
education" meant merely non-clas-
steal education. 1t is now beginning 70
be used in a quite different sense as
denoting n special preparation for busi-
ness, analogous to the special prepara-
ton given to physicians or lawyers or
civil engineers. This is due to the eX-
ample of Germany, France and Bel
GUM, in which countries such special
preparation has been given for many
years. Germany has led all other coun-
tries in this respect and has derived
great benefit from her system of COM
mercal education. The achievements
of Germany in applied science and the
expansion of her export trade have set
all the rest of Europe to study her
methods. In England n strong ana
growing interest in the whole subject e
being developed, while in this country
Mr.. Bryce says that a better educa-
tional provision has been made than
yet exists in Great Britain.
There are business men who do not
regard a special preparation for COM
mercial life as of any practical use
but the experience of the European
countries that provide for this educa-
ton very conclusively demonstrates
that it is of practical value. OF course
| special preparation for commercial life
will not necessarily enable man to
| achieve business success. Something
besides teaching is required for success
| in business as in all other walks of life,
AS Mr.. Bryce says, all that special
preparation can possibly do is to make
those who have the natural gifts that
| lead to success somewhat better and to
| make those in whom these natural gifts
are deficient somewhat less bad. While
special preparation will not of itself
ensure success 1t gives to the one who
has it some advantage over the one who
has not received it, natural gifts being
equal.
Commerce has become more com
pick affair than 1t ever was before and
consequently calls for greater ability
and intelligence than ever before.
Trade conditions are constantly chans,
ing and need to be studied more closely
and carefully than in the past. The
problems a business man has to deal
with are now more intricate than a
generation ago. Consequently knowl-