Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-07-10
COMMERCIALISM
TEACHERS TOPIC
IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS
SCHOOLS EMPHASIZED
Educators Say That Business Training
No Longer Is Secondary to
Other Departments Of
School Work

The topic Of the Preparation and I'M
provement OF Commercial Teachers" was
discussed at length by the department OF
business education in Alhambra hall,
Fraternal Brotherhood building, yester-
day morning.
The program included three papers. The
first was Present Standards of CONNER
cial instruction with Present Require
ments for Commercial Teachers" by
James ]. Sheppard of the high school OF
commerce, New York city. The second
was Available Means and Additional
Means Required for the Preparation Of
president of the Valparaiso university.
Valparaiso, Indiana. The third paper was
by a local man, +. G. Weber of the Poly
technic high school. His subject was
ers Now at Work."
The president of the department H. NJ
Rowe of Baltimore. opened the meeting
by giving the customary presidents adj
dress. He began his address by recount
ing the history of the department as an
integral part of the National Educational
association; He said the idea of a bust
ness teachers association originated
about 1872, when the workers in some
private school in New York state formed
a union for mutual help. About 1896 after
the department had been part of the N
p. A. for eleven years, 1t took as its
definite work the investigation of sub
jects and theories of commercial instruc-
ton.
Importance of Business Teacher
Speaking of the pioneer teachers in
business education Mr.. Rowe said in
part:
ut was formerly doubtful compliment
to say that any person was a business
college teacher But the pioneers of our
profession have lived down any odium
which might be attached to the public
benefactor who teaches commercial sub
jects In the public schools, and today the
business telcher stands as the equal in
value of am teacher in the public school,
He does this because he has proven
his value t society by training young
people for he business world who have
shown to thebusiness community by their
work that a BUSINESS education pays as
means of betering ones condition. Re
peating this tatement Better prepara-
ton for COMMERCIAL teahcers is the vital
point leaveIhe subject in your hands"
His address fas received with applause
by the teaches present Mr.. Sheppard
being absent, I. r. Brown was intro
duced. Mr.. BSwn outlined the growth
in respectablitlof the business teachers
profession, andt welt on the fact that the
public had at ist come to realization
of the truth lat business men need
ncholastic trairpg as well as Lawyers
lind doctors. III said the prejudice that
liomr- ercial eduotion is not cultural has
Seen slowly wipa out, for modern pusl-
less methods repire as high Intelligence
Ind clear headel thinking. as any other
line of work. III means for preparation
of commercial thchers were much the
same as Mr. RoS's.
Local an Speaks
f. C. Weber of yolytechnic high school
emphasized the fdt that business expert
ence is one of thdbest aids to. teacher
in a business scNol: He said that to
know best how athing should be done
he teacher shouldhave had actual expe-
pol nee in doing 1t. >,
ut well QUALIFIED ieachers are scarce
n continued ut isestimated that there
nd nO r11a
teachers ~ private dlleges In this oounr
=. IN public commerciaJschools. This would
aiSe total of froh 10000 to $4,000 bust
nrs teachers In Y united states; we
VAN more good teEhers, and this brings
US 20 ~. eachss who could fill good
are maj 49, Il, The culture or expert
ance necessary In W good teacher; -,
The vital question be ~ nTnnara al ton
the teaching, world is most unhesi-
for commercial teachers ''''''
tatingly recommend IT. M1rich will aid n
There are four means ~ - ~ otaitin,'
teacher in improving his ON g sf,3v corrn.
These are summer school NStuIS 90 e
school study, teacNei "9S'Ni1
lions and professional journaS%' ,t,o,. e,,+,
"In the summer school the teAsSaer go 80
an outing and also culture. Tli& - -
Success. Teachers associations andNESSol--
fessional journals are also good, but e.
nerience can best be gained by. actual
participation in the world OF affalrs'
the private schools point of view. He
said that there should not be the, least
anita ponism between the private and pub
lie school. Both schools needed broad
minded business man ac at 5he he n said par
tolres of the nature of a business enter
nrise with the added responsibility oL
training young minds.