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

and disgrace. Whatever else may be
included as a pert of the commercial
course, its supreme aim should be the
production Of graduates who have the
ballast of correct ideals and who are
endowed with integrity of purpose,
thorough instruction should then create
the capacity to realize these ideals.
Commercial education will be clas-
Sed as elementary, or as preparation
for mere routine of office work, by
! those only whose scope of vision is
narrow and who have failed to grasp
the meaning of the new economic era
IN which 1t is their privilege to be liv-
| ing. To formulate course for com
mercial instruction in our High school
does not mean to exclude all classical
and scientific studies, nor does it mean
that certain technical commercial sub
jects like shorthand, typewriting, and
bookkeeping, are simply added to the
| curriculum in order that those SO in
ciined may elect these subjects to the
exclusion of others of a more formal
nature.
If properly understood and applied
it will mean that history. mathematics,
sciences and the languages are to some
extent to be studied with reference to
present social, economic and business
conditions, both at home and among
= foreign peoples. IT will mean also,
that purely technical commercial sub
jects he taught and managed by those
7 who appreciate the cultural qualities,
| the Journalism of training, the theory
of mental development. Their instruc-
ton must be not only widening, useful
and good, but also good for something
Not long ago it was said to be the
boast of some German schools of
| higher education, that they trans
formed their students into good Greeks
and good Romans; but the German
ideal in matters of education today, in
1908, Is 10 make good Germans. Those
who advocate commercial education
believe that the road Travelled to eXer-
else the mental qualities, to establish
judgment. to cultivate memory and to
develop the imagination, may be q
road leading directly into the activi-
! ties of The better social community.
The Lest teachers of the classics, of
English, of history. of science, and of
mathematics, are those who take cog
nizance of the commercial course and
its requirements, and who can add
substance to it by interpreting these
subjects, in their relation to modern
| Industry and social conditions
In many respects the business col
lcge people have been Interpreting the
Imperative need much better than the
public schools; but their training was
only a first step in tho direction of so
cial capacity and service by the use
Of model offices, counting rooms type
writer's and practical work. business
colleges were producing the activities
Of actual business. This was done in
narrow and artificial way to be sure,
but after all, much more effectively
than it was in the traditional sccon-
dairy schools. The success and contin-
uanc@ of the business college is due to
just this: it has done a work that
elsewhere was generally neglected.
fith arto, the business community has
beer unable to make any satisfactory
use of those trained in the high schools,
or to offer them a place BETTING their
age and ideas. Business men have been
compelled to choose between the "dcvil
and the deep sea" of general ignorance
in those from the grammar schools, and
a scant technical education in those
from business colleges.
1t is not our purpose to give the Nm
preston that the Commercial Depart
ment will seek to turn out a ready
made business man. However, it may
reasonably aim to equip it's graduates
to write well. to familiarize him with
current business paper and office prac-
tice, to establish him in the principles
Of accounts, and to give him some
notion of the legal regulation of bust
ness transactions. Shorthand and
typewriting will have'their place, and
attention will he given to all those sub
iects included under the head of Bust
ness Technique. English subjects in
themselves. will occupy a prominent
place, and in addition, an accurate,
forceful, and graceful expression, both
oral and written, will be required
And reading, reading, reading.-silcnt-
ly and Misunderstanding of. books and
papers that are models Of good Eng
llsh will be required, and they must
also be practical in the lessons and
subjects which they present Some of
the best texts upon the subjects of
BUSINESS Ethics, Economics and Polit-
zeal Science and our relations with for
eign countries will be read outside of
school and written reports made on
them There is appropriate literature
n m