The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-09-23
EXHIBIT Z.

To the Committee on Course of Study:
While have full appreciation Of the diff
fculties under which you labor, and an ear
nest desire to aid you whenever possible,
the interests of the students in the CONNER
cial course In this institution require that
raise objections to the new arrangement
of the course of study as follows:
1. The old course had nine periods per
week of commercial work in the first year.
The new course has only rs periods. Eng
lish only is retained. while mental arithme-
tic, penmanshp and spelling are transferred
to the second year. Biology is stricken out.
and Latin and ancient history are inserted
The course is Identical with the classical
course for the first year. The effects of these
changes will be-
(a) To discourage pupils from taking the
commercial course for the four years. Pu-
pills cannot be made to believe that Latin
and ancient history are fundamentals to a
commercial course.
(b) To increase the number Of special stu
dents or those asking for irregular courses
(c) To put the commercial course in the
position Of being an appendage to the work Of
the Institute instead of an independent. equal
and coordinate course.
(d) To cripple the work of the second
year by forcing the students to take sub
jects co-ordinately, when some of them
should precede and serve as basis for
others.
(e) To dishearten teachers and pupils, who
desire greater freedom of election and the
doing away with the "lock-step' In educa-
ton.
uD To assist the classical course by the
'1ock-step" process. which makes the
change to the commercial course at the be-
ginning of the second year most difficult for
those who desire to change. The same plan
elsewhere has resulted in the weaker pupils
taking up the commercial work owing to the
pressure brought to bear upon the stronger
pupils to continue the work in Latin. ETC.
For that reason many of the high schools
notably Los Angeles. have placed all the
commecial work in the first two years.
Q. The commercial course as arranged for
last year contained the minimum of periods
for commercial work. 1t has been my desire
to increase some of them and to introduce a
few new subjects. I cannot feel happy over
the general abridgment of the commercial
work and the omission of the commercial
thesis in the fourth year, and the work in
augmentation in the third year. and the re-
ducing by one-half the time formerly given
to penmanship. From my point of view the
changes should be in the direction of dis
tinctiye courses rather than the making of
all courses differ in name only.
8. The placing of photography in the
third year is serious detriment to those
pupils who desire to take positions as pho
nographers after graduation. If placed later
in the course we should have more time for
1t. By the old course we required the stu
dent to take it two periods per week during
the second year. and then required them to
use their shorthand during the third and
fourth years. which made them fairly pro-
dcent.
4. have found that at least three peri
DDS per week are necessary to accomplish
good results in the fourth year class in COM
mercial law, and l hope that you can give
me the additional period.
5. AS the work labelled Commercial The
sis" in the old course. fourth year. was Eng
iish as well as original investigation along
the line Of the pupils future work. l re-
quest that 1t be restored in place of the
English of the new course and that the ex-
ira period be devoted to the work in adver
Using. Respectfully submitted.
WIN. C. STEVENSON.