Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-16

| unless he knew bookkeeping and could
make q better showing in pennanship
ana yet having no place to so and
| learn. This condition he determined
| to correct if ever the opportunity
| came. He vert to New York and in.-
| proved himself as best he could and
later cane to Philadelphia, where he
| opened his first school In 1884. From
| this date Bartlett devoted his life 10
furnishing in school what would serve
as Il sort Of substitute for apprentices
| ship III commercial work.
II is clearly shown that the com
| mcrcial school has come. because
there was q demand for it, The
| private commercial school is perhaps
the best Illustration in matters of edu-
cational that Necessity is the mother
| of invention" The birth of the
American business college was not
| clearly recorded; we can best say of it,
as of the inimitable Topsy, it just
grew.
In 1776, about nine-tenths of
| Americans were farmers The num-
! Der Of business men was compar-
lively small. An examination of the
census of 1860 does not reveal what
VIC would like to know However the
wholesalers, retailers, bankers, manu-
facturtrs, agents, clerks, bookkeepers.
stenographcrs, shippers and profess
Sicnal business men of all classes.
numbered millionS;-We are leaving
the estimation Of the percentage to the
Judgment of those who read and re-
fleet.
So business ana culture were both
represented by schools and colleges.
Culture devised the old academy ana
is responsible for the new high school
1t is good, important, and necessary
Business devised the commercial
scl,onl or college 1t came as q
remedy for a condition: it's purpose
being, Education for practical life" Il
il also theoretically sound, and is a
practical necessity.
The commercial spirit dominates in
America. Do we regret the fact?
Would it help matters if we did A?
Since we have found ourselves a part
Of the condition, we accept it as a
problem. The school is not establish
cl to create on direct the tendencies of
the age. and would no doubt fail il
this should be attempted; therefore, it
seems wise for the school to adapt it.
self TO the best national sentiment
The United States has already be
como a factor in great industrial anG
commercial undertakings and in sup
plying world markets.
Cannot the demands of commercial
educ alton be justified? Is it not time
that the American public schools
should recognize the importance and
necessity of this department of educa-
ton, when the Federal Government has
organized a department of Commerce
and Labor" and created new office in
the Cabinet?
Business and war have brought to-
gcthcr Che ends of the earth, and by
these agencies, India, China and Japan
will be redeemed to Europe and Amer
lea. business is becoming organized,
ordered, and professionalism. Exclu-
size private interests are gradually Civ
ing place to organizations and corpora
tons: and these in process of justice,
will become more democratic and fit
to control economic life.
In view of this analysis, it is evident
that the pupil who is to understand
modern life at as early an age as is
necessary, must have some classified
and systematic knowledge of the com
pick structure and organization Of
modern industry and commerce and
some insight into its meaning.
We cannot hesitate longer in the
course Of this article in bringing into
it the supreme problem of moral in
struction or business ethics. We do
not wish to be accused of advocating
material civilization, for no matter
how many its luxuries nor how well
organized, it would have no consisten-
cy, could never be established, and il
suddenly created would quickly de-
generate into nlurdercus revolution for
want of the ideal and moral element.
What men are, is more important than
what they know, and character is
more important than is position. Wor-
thy character and qualities, however.
are usually rewarded by the highest
and best positions. 1t must be per-
fectly plain that the business frauds,
defau!ters, legal tricksters, and manip-
ufators of thigh finance" have receiv-
ed no special training in these damag
ing, dishonest and immoral practices.
We are satisfied that men being edu-
Gated in schools of commerce. where
the right ideals are instiled into their
minds, would develop greater strength
to resist the temptations which SO Of
ten work the beginning of failure, ruin