Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-02
Commercial Training in High Schools.

GOWm0ICk8l AIaluIn6 ~ AAs6o
Many people have firm convictions
that there is not enough practical
in the high schools Of the
present day. They see the boys ana
girls leaving the grades and, instead
Of completing the high school course
going to the commercial college or
business school and in 80 days or six
months getting business education
which enables them to earn . lair
salary as book keepers or stenogra-
piers. 1t seems reasonable that this
education might be given at the pub
lie expense as well as one in classics
or mathematics and fully as satisfac'
torily as it is given in private instl'
tuition. Some Kansas high schools are
attempting this. The Dickinson
county high school did something
toward it last year. Ellsworth has q
very practical" course.
The Chicago Rscord.Hsrald gives
this account Of similar attempts IN
that city: Commercial studies are
growing in favor rapidly at the high
schools. Under the elective system
instituted two years ago many stu
dents have dropped other branches to
take up bookkeeping and stenogra-
ply. Some hasty persons have as
sumed that the classical and literary
studies have suffered the entire de-
lection. While it is true these
branches show some loss coinciden'
with the increase in the Commercial
course, it is asserted by teachers thai
the facts do not Justify the basty con
clusion that Latin and literature have
been the only sufferers. The currl
culum is made up Of . large number
Of studies, and many Of these hav'
been dropped by pupils wishing II
take the commercial course.
Sat the Englewood high school
for example, the students taking book
keeping have increased in numoe
from sixty.dve last year to l6l thi
year. This gain is accounted for II
part, however, by the fact that boil
first and second year pupils are nov
permitted to wrestle with accounts
! whereas last year the study was con
| fined to second year pupils. In
: class in stenography on the othe
hand decreased from forsy'eight las
year to ior.y.three this term Their
, has not been sufficient demand 10
commercial geography or Commercial
law to warrant the establishment Q
classes. The Latin classes have %
, mem bers, which is q loss Of about
: per cent, as compared with last year
, but all of this cannot be charged u
: to the commercial course. With tn
introduction OF the elective syster
| some pupils dropped Latin for history
. and there may have been simila
0 movement this year. Some OF th
commercial recruits may have com
Y from the French classes, which los
| about as much as the Latin. Englls
Q also has suffered.
. principal James E. Armstrong b
t lieves the commercial classes wi
4. continue to grow as parents come
9 learn their place in the curriculum
!. The impression went out that boy
t and girls could fit themselves Tor bus
K ness at the high school with cour'
! confined to the business branche
Q but that was a mistake. These al
9 only small part of the four'ye'
o course, and the pupil wishing tt
commercial equipment must take
good high school education with
Mr.. Armstrong is Of the opinion th
i the commercial branches may SER
J. the purpose Of mental discipline a
proximately as we'll as the classic
o studies II properly taught, and he
It CARDS the new course as step in u
y right direction