The San Francisco call., 1909-12-29
EDUCATORS URGE
ENGLISH TRAINING
Business College Convention
Discusses Problems of
the Student

OAKLAND, Dec. 2S.55Special empha-
sis was laid upon the Importance to
students of stenography and sypewrit-
ing of a thorough training in English
at the second days Session of the Busi-
ness Educators Association OF CalifOr-
ala in the Oakland sPOIytechnic college
auditorium today %
In the course of a discussion OF
English for the Business college" Mrs.
l. L Weber of San Jose said that the
depIorable ignorance of English dis
played by many pupils who had re-
celved their rudimentary education in
the public schools was a source of con-
slant amazement and unceasing anxiety
TO her in her capacity as a teacher.
One reason for this deficiency she de-
ciared to be the III arranged etsrriculum
or the graded schools. which embraces
so many subjects that English is per-
force neglected for less important
studies She added that the rudimen-
tary courses Of English in the public
seAools are given when the mind oe
the average pupil is so immature that
ne IS unable to grasp the significance
or the instruction he receives.
English can no longer be a side
issue for the business college she de-
clared- 1T should be emphasized as
strongly in the book keeping courses
as in stenography. The greatest need
OF the stenOgrapher is neither swff4
ness nor accuracy in typewriting. al
though these are important but a
knowledge of words and how TO use
them Let all the business colleges
go on record as making a thorough
knowledge Of English a requisite for
a diploma in stenOgraphy. and the
teachers will find their positions
strengthened and the prestige OF their
schools "
Marion II. Upton of Santa Rosa. who
read paper on tJpewriting, declared
that one of the greatest difficulties en-
eountered by the business teacher is
10 1nSt1ll the principles of applica-
tlon into the minds OF her pupils.
The instructors work does not end
with the mastering of the typewriter
0y their pupils" she asserted -.Ad-
yanced classes in dictatfon should al
ways include training in English and
orthography- TypewFitfng Is not pure
~ a mechanical art. / never allow a
pupil to submit a dictated letter with
out some discussion OF it's composition
and spelling"
Other educators who read papers and
entered into the discussions OF the
morning session were w. w. Kennedy
OF Heald's business. college. Oakland:
b. T. Jordan of the Metropolitan busi-
ness college of San Francisco: e. Vfr-
slnla Grant of the Santa Rosa business
college. and W. Z. Cameron of the San
Francisco business college
The afternoon session was taken M
with the reading of a paper on the es-
sent1als of course in stenOgraphy by
u Z. Robinson of Heald's business col
leSe OF Stockton. with discussions bv
Miss Clara Norton of Heald's business
college, San Francisco. and others. and
paper on arithmetic and rapid ealcu-
lation by J. S. Sweet. president OF the
santa Rosa business college Ira n
Allen OF the Oakland Polytechnic col
lege and W. s. Stone of the Metropoli-
tan business college. San Francisco.
discussed Sweets paper.
The Commercial Teacher and Expert
Accountant was the subject of a paper
by H c. Ingram of the Oakland Poly
technic college
Ihis evening the Business Managers
ASSOCIATION held a special meeting for
the discussion of problems involving
the successful conduct OF colleges
throughout the state.
An important feature of tomorrow
mornings sessions of the convention
VIII be the annual election of officers
Tor the coming year.