Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-22
A COMMERCIAL COURSE.
La Rue Discusses Proposed Course in
Cony High School.


in Cony High School. My reply was,
that l could not give specific answer
without first studying the conditions
here; that. in general, the schools of
Augusta ought to serve the people of
Augusta; that If there is in this region
sufficient demand for young men and
women who have had business train
ing-or. to express it in better way.
if there is any considerable number of
young people who would take adj
vantage of such 4 course as the initial
step toward a business career, it
ought to be provided. There is press
ing upon me such a mass of detail
anticipatory to the opening of the
schools. that l am unable. at the pres
ent time. to give this question any con-
siderable attention. and 1 want the
people of Augusta to help me answer
it.
It would hardly seem to be q
sufficient reason to establish such Il
course simply because other cities
have dcle 50. Yet, if the same condi-
tons prevail here as are found in those
other cities, conditions which have
been successfully met by the estab-
would probably be wise to deal with
them in Il similar manner here. In
the minds of MA jority of our citizens
who lave given the subject careful
consideration. the pcrplexities of the
situation seem to have resolved them
selves. and there is undoubtedly 4 con-
siderable demand for the Introduction
Of 4 commercial course. In my
Il III
and should receive some substantial
response from the Board of Education.
Considering the expressions of opinion
/ have heard from its members.
should say Il canvass of that body
would disclose unanimous sentiment in
favor of granting to our young people,
at the earliest possible moment that is
conpat;hlc with Il real and abiding
satisfaction of their deeper interests,
the opportunity to gain adequate bust
ness training. The uppermost queS-
ton now seems to be. When shall this
commercial course be installed?
There is apparently an idea preva-
lent i'm the minds of some who have
recently been laboring for the unifica-
tion of the schools. that the election of
the new Roard of Education meant.
infcrontially the establishment OF
commercial course as an Immediate So
uupnce From oil that | can learn, 1t
appears that such an association of
ideas is entirely gratuitous. There Is
no smack of nattery in the statement
that our Board is composed of thought
full. earnest men. whose deepest wish
is to serve their fellow townsmen
most ,ffectually. They have no
ulcdcec to redeem. however, and can
doubtless render the best service if
thcv are left unhindercd IN their ef-
forts. Rat how can the best service
be rendered?
1t is we'll known that the Hich
s, hool building is crowded to l'E
caracity. and the suggestion mas he"a
offered that rooms be secured else
where for the accommodation or the
commercial work. and that the course
be installed at once. TINS may ne
tho best policy to pursue: if so, let us
adopt it by all means. But let us
first make sure that we understand. as
nearly as possible, just what is m
volvcd in such procedure. If then
there should hc any regret at the I'M
satisfactory results accruing from
haSty conSummation of our wishes. we
shall have no one to blame but our
selves.
In the first place. if it is supposed by
any one that 4 business course means
simply stcnography. tvpeWriting and
bookkeeping. with a fringe Of business
law and commercial geography. he
should give the matter n second and
more serious consideration. Any par
ent who is satisfied with such "busi
ness training" for a son or daughter,
has my profound sympathy. Such
courses may at best train business
chore-boys. but frequently they fail to
accomplish so much as that. and sim
ply prove a nuisance to the schools
that establish them. The commercial
sinks into 4 vicious dis
being regarded as the
waste basket of the High school cur
riculum. fit only for those who lack
tho intellect to make q success Of any
thing else. If business course is tn
be established in Augusta. let it he
one that will reflect credit upon us.
and stand fully on a par with the
classical and scientific departments. |
not n mere palliative for those who de- |
sire to escape the rigor Of more seri- |
Gus pursuits. in which higher stand |
ara is maintained. The pedagogical |
difficulties that oppose the haSty in |
stallatinn of 4 course that would be at |
al adequate. are not readily appre
ciatca by the layman in education. but |
they ere real and serious nevertheless. |
To quickly graft on 50 large 4 scion |
is to prepare Il grave possibility Of |
dead wood later on.
Again, if rooms are engaged apart |
from the High School building, this |
course must almost Of necessity be I'M |
happily split off from other work with |
which it is closely related. as the Eng |
fish and mathematics of tho regular |
program of studies. TIL" students in |
these isolated rooms would feel them |
selves no organic part of the Cony |
High School. No way could he found |
that would tend more quickly and |
suroIy to create a spirit of antagonism |
he tween the students of the CONNER
cial department and those students |
who would still be working in lahora-
tories and coniugating Greek verbs. |
This work should he as intricately |
correlated rs possible with the courses