Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-27
THE NEW COURSE.
Continued from Page Eleven.)

of facts which will illustrate the in
dustrial, commercial, and political side
of the life of the peoples studied. The
history of commerce will have it's prop
er place Commercial Geography will be
presented in connection with a study Of
raw materials and the manner in which
they find their way into the worlds
trade. Science, in the commercial
school, should be study of the phe-
nomena of everyday life, and to this
end the laboratory will be used.
A special museum for the Com
nercial Department will be necessary.
In this, a new type of science is in
troduced. Animal, vegetable. and min
eral products are to be studied as the
materials of commerce. A separate but
inexpensive equipment will be needed
and citizens will be solicited to aid in
stocking it with collection Of raw
materials and of materials in the proc
ess of manufacture.
Political Economy will have place
This does not mean that we shall aim
1t the production of political phlloso-
piers or sociologists. The methods VIII
be largely historical and descriptive.
The history of Maine, its government
and Industries will be made one point
of contact. Reports of observation and
special studies of trades Will furnish
material for written exercises.
The school can be made a part of the
commercial world by bringing repre-
sentatives of the business community
into the school. and by taking the
school into the business community.
Snr iy,Sf 1 a DER
the subject of Banking and Banks.
and two or three lectures by practical
bankers on various phases of their
work. the students will follow up the
subject by visits to banking instltu-
tions. One of the best practical helps
that can come to the school from Inc
outside is the influence of members OF
the business community. Many pusl-
ness men talk readily and interestingly
of their work. others who do not
speak we'll at first, are very effective
when they have the stimulus of ques-
tions
School life may be brought closer to
real life by the educational excursion
which is now a common feature OF iot-
cign commercial schools. 1t hardy
need be said that these excursions VIII
degenerate into mere picnic jaunts I'M
less they are we'll planned. properly
supervised. and regularly followed up
with definite work.
With regard to the principles above
outlined. there has been formulated TOT
the Cony High School, & course that
will furnish an education equal III
worth to that given in other depart
ments; i'm addition it will serve the use
full purpose of training a part OF the
young people toward the social act'V-
tiles they must follow. To carry on
their work with the largest measure oil
success, schools of commercial inStfuc-
tion need to have the confidence anu
the support of the business community
therefore, in behalf of the newly es-
tablished Commercial Department, we
desire to- enlist this interest and con-
fidencc.
This commercial work will have
stable academic basis and therefore
should be recognized as fairly equal III
educational value to any other depart
ment. Commercial education can DEM
onstrate it's academic worth and easns
sustain itself as means of training,
it will develop its practical value anu
win the favor of it's proper constitu-
cncy. We predict that it will be per-
manent and popular adjunct to !ho
present excellent system of instructor,
which will be continued in the enlargeo
Cony High School in 1909-10.
Charles II. Mcclure