The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-18
ADD TWO YEARS
To COURSES OF
BUSINESS HIGH
Important Change Eff
fective When Schools
Open Monday.
Institutions Will Become
Broader in Scope and
Learning.

A change that IS probably the most
radical made IN the Washington high
schools ia ten years, and one which
viii as radically affect the life OF
the schools in many important ways.
has been announced by the Board
Of Education regarding the length Of the
course at Business High.
Instead Of having merely the two-year
term. which has heretofore been the
case since the establishmnt of high
schools in the District. an alternative
four-year course for pupils who wish 10
continue their studies for that period
has been adopted after nearly five years
OF work toward this end by Principal
Allan Davis, OF Business, and others in
terested in tne matter
While the change will be Of greatest
+ interest 20 many Washingtonians, and
sven OF greater Importance because it
IS entirely new TO the city, It is not an
entirely new idea 1t Is only IN keeping
with the precedent recently set by four
of the largest Eastern cities-Boston,
Brooklyn, New York, and Philadelphia
which cities adopted tne system in their
business schools several years ago. Ac-
COrdlng 70 various mem bersy Of the star
Of school officials, a thorough invetiga-
tiGn has been made concerning the sys-
TENS In vogue IN these cities, together
with. study Of the results which have
obtained.
Change Works Good.
In every instance il has been learned
Ahat the change has worked fer unlimit-
cd good, and that the standards Of the
! schools OF this class IN the places men
toned have been raised 10 high de-
gree. Mr.. Davis in particular. is very
enthusiastic over the new plan. and it
Is his opinion and also the opinion of
members OF the board and school Of
fcials alike. that It is the most i'm
portant and radical change that has
been made Ia District school methods in
years,
In brief, the various changes made
consist of additional studies 10 be pur-
sued and the leugthening Of the courses
OF study which were formerly completed
IN two years 10 four. 1t is expected
tuat thOrOughness and wider scope or
3 subject viii be Afforded 10 students
and that this, together with several en-
urely new subjects which have been
added, viii make the Business school
one OF the foremost institutions OF It's
kind in the United States.
The course in technical business ualn-
ing is retained entirely, but has been
extended 10 include other subjects along
similar lines.
Addition Of Subject.
An important addition, which intro
duees an entirely new subject. and one
which viii make the business course
partly academic one Is the requirement
OF the study Of at least one foreign Ian
euage IN each of the four years. II will,
OF course. be optional with the student
whether the tWo-year or the four-year
course will be taken, and the rule which
allows a student 10 De transferred from
the arst 10 the second after Two years
win permit of his taking a foreign Ian
guage in only the last two years.
Other conditions TO the course will
be along the lines OF biology, commercial
products, physics. and industrial chem
istry. all OF which nave not been in
cluded heretofore in any Of the courses
at the business school.
rms change viii be adopted and put
into euect al the opening OF the faIl
term on Monday Alr. Davis states that
he f0resa that the change would ba
made and accordingly practically made
Up several classes for the third year
term from members OF last years grad
uating class. These pupils viii COM
gFlse Wnat viii be known as the first
has ever had.
Aid to the Cadets.
While this change was made BY a
committee appointed for the purpose. IL
Is well known fact that Mr.. Davis
is mainly responsible. For almost six
years he has worked unceasfnslv 10
bring the matter TO q head. and the
new courses, With few slight changes.
are the fruits of his labors
Not only viii tho new system work
good for pupils in the line OF study but
us effect Will be felt In various other
p ways. The Business school has always
naa az least one company 10 represent
u IN the High School Cadet Regiment
but never since the inception OF this
orsantzauon hes Il captured the coveted
Alliscn Nalior prize, which is presented
each year to the best drilled company
The reason for this is plain. The men
who went on the drill field In the spring
were inexperienced in comparison tO
those from the other schools.
with the beginning OF the course OF
study at Business this handicap will
be overcome, and there is little doubt
but that this change viii materially
Continued on Tenth Papel