The Washington herald., 1912-09-11
MASTERY, NOT MYSTERY,
THE GOAL OF EDUCATION
BY MYRoN JERMAIN JONES, NJ. A

cation-changing from the attempt to
build from the top down." away from
actual business-and begin to train men
into the business of the day. from the
bottom up?"
What constitutes effective education
for the new profession OF commerce?
Has the time arrived when a far greater
share OF our educational facilities should
be given to education for commerce, and
all efforts to furnish adequate training
for young men?
Who shall dictate our policy in COM
mercial education-the scholastic peds-
gogue. or the instructor, who is mature
man of business? What must the new
training for business do?
Now. the gist of the discussion growing
out of such questions amounted TO this:
That one large immediate problem is
that of adequate adult education In
America.
That the difficulties of adequate COM
mercial training are at least three: ID
Lack of properly trained special teach
ers; (2 Lack of equipment in the form
of adequate textbooks and appliances
for instruction; go Lack of recognition
of the peculiar needs of the student who
is occupied the whole day at his en-
ployment.
This discussion of the leaders Of the
metropolis, in the light of the difficulties
and the resources at the command Of
commercial education for overcoming
them, LED to some significant conclusions:
% Successful special teachers must
unite the pedagogic instinct with prac-
tical understanding of the actual needs
OF business.
~ Textbooks must be free from the
numbering, befogging, useless stun, and
must put principles, statements. and
propositions in lucid, narrative style to
delight the student while instructing him.
CD From the business mans viewpoint
the solution of the problem of properly
training those who are to serve in the
field of commerce, waits upon the coun-
sci and active participation of business
men themselves in shaping the pro-
grammes of study.
1t is well understood that the remark
able success of commercial continuation
school work in Europe generally is pri-
marily due to the active part played by
business men. 1t is they who have foun-
ed the schools, formulated the courses
of study, guided the policy, and even
participated in active teaching. 1t is said
that the ablest merchants of the city
are found on the governing board of
every commercial school of Germany.
Germany's commercial schools. which
lead the world, are under the Minister OF
Commerce, and not under the Minister
OF Education.
D The aims of commercial education
of the right kind should be these: To
prepare a large number of men for the
lower grades Of commercial employment.
a smaller number for directive activity.
and still smaller number for creative
leadership. 1t should put the oppor-
tunity for rising in the scale of service
on the basis of fitness.
G) Finally, it will recognize the i'm
perative need of presenting the content
of economics and ethics as applied to
current accounting, auditing. finance
and legal relations dealt with in actual
life. so that It may be grasped and under
stood tas early in ones training as pos
sible.
One supreme thought seems voiced
from considerations like these, which the
young men Of Washington may well
think Of seriously II is the idea that