Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-07-16
A BUSINESS TRAINING
The Methods That Are Used In
the Schools Of Germany.
CLASS ROOMS AS OFFICES.
The Pupils Are Divided Into Firms
That Garry en- an Imaginary Trade
With Each other-The Course From
Office Boy TO Director.

With Each other-The Course From
Office Boy to Director.
No one will deny the fact that Ger
mans are among the kcenest business
men In the world. And undoubtedly
one Of the secrets OF their success lies
IN the fact that IN German schools
boys are taught the practical details
OF business. The writer recently re-
turned from Hamburg after years
course of education. and an outline of
the system OF training boys In business
may he interesting.
On my first days attendance | was
handed a time table on which appear.
ed. set out In formidable array. such
subjects us commercial correspond
encc. laws OF bills of exchange. cur
rency. political economy and CONNER
clal law. none Of which nc the time
conveyed much 10 me and raised seri-
Gus doubts In my mind as 10 whether
| should be able to understand and APP
prcciatc what appeared TO be most
nbstrusc subjects.
At0a. m. sharp on the following day
the course began, prefaced by cou-
pie Of hours hard study. for the Ger
mans are gluttons TO work and think
nothing OF twelve hour day. The
first course was called business train.
ing" We worked I'm two spacious
rooms furnished rs offices. each room
representing n different business house.
These two firms carried on an imagi.
nary trade with each other, and the
routine adhered to was modelled exact
~ on the lines OF first class business
establishment.
Each firm had n director. and these
two were the most eminent students In
the academy They had subject TO
their management and control COM
plcte staff of correspondents. short
hand writer's. typists. bookkccpers. etc
The whole was supervised by mas
ter. TO whom reference was made in
case Of dispute or difficulty.
On making my appearance ] was in
formed that my services were In re-
quest as an office boy. | was some
what taken back. not TO say n little
Inundated. by the lowly position as
signed TO me. ana gave the master 10
understand that considered | was
qualified 10 occupy n much better post
than that which he had chosen for me.
lie did not seem In the least perturbcd
by my remarks. but said: "You have
already made n mstakc--a mistake of
diplomacy One Of the great maxims
OF business as taught here is to do
what you are told. to do II at once and
do Il we'll"
With that he handed me pile OF
envelopes and long list OF addresses
ana told me 20 set 10 work addressing
them did so. hut not with n very
good grace. the master coming round
from time &C. time 1. inspect my work
For two solid hours ! plodded on until
II u. m. when the course came to an
end Then took the opportunity Of
going up Ia the master again and ask.
ing him II he did not really think |
had been wasting my time in what !
had been doing
mot IN the least" said he an
everything. no matter how simple or
how difficult. there Is always n good
deal 10 learn. II you have paid attcn-
tlon while you were working You will
have learned something about the &c
ography OF the German empire. for
each address contains the name Of
some important town and province In
which II is situated and the name OF
some firm celebrated for some particu-
lar class OF goods"
This gave me food for reflection. As
matter Of fact. | had not paid the
least attention 10 what ! had been
writing: consequently | had failed 10
derive the benefit which II was the
masters intention should obtain from
what seemed to me nj the outset
most scnsclcss task. on the following
day resolved 10 follow out the mas
ter's Instructions TO the letter. and
was surprised 10 nnl how interesting
the work became.
continued addressing envelopes for
two hours q day for u whole week anl
the next week ! received promotion
In this way went through the whole
routine from office 10y TO director
and the experience which | obtained
IN the various capacities has proved
invaluable to me In business
As director ! had to sign checks. die.
tate letters. enter into agreements with
the other firm with reference 20 the
sale and purchase OF goods keep an
eye on the money market work ont ar
bltragc calculations. draw up and In
dorse bills OF exchange and bills Of
ladlng. make ont periodical statements
of affairs. allow or dispute amounts
placed TO the debit Of the firm ON nc.
count OF general average losses and
generally supervise everything.
While we were thus drilled In pracii.
cal work the theoretical side OF bust.
ness was not neglected. Lectures were
given at fixed hours. bookkeeping and
mercantile law Thus we enjoyed the
lnestlmablc advantage Of acquiring the
theory and practice Of business NJ the
same time. Detroit Free rress.