The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-07
must FIT Them
FOR REAL DUTIES
Sof revision OF the school curriculum
means the elimination, Of the less use-

Sof revision OF the school curriculum
means the elimination Of the less use
ful 70 meet the needs of the average
youth Keeping in mind the requires
kments OF. modern life, scientific knowl-
1edxe b entering more largely into the
solution OF our everyday problems
than ever before; therefore the eeono-
mic sciences should have precedence
In this country the margin between
cost and income must be worked out
upon economic principles, consequent
~ these studies should have a much
larger place in our courses This
means domestic economy, political
economy, and social economy; in TACT
tha applications and diffsrentiatinns
OF the underlying principles OF econ
cmics as applied TO The practical prob
lens OF HE.
Foreign languages and higher mati-
omatics are very necessary for those
who are preparing for college, and
they should be provided for this class
Of pupils, and any others. but should
not be required of those who wish to
qualify directly for business life.
The common notion that such sub
tecrs as commercial arithmetic. book
keeping. stenography, commercial law,
penmanship. typewriting, commercial
geography. and all the other CONNER
ciai branches are second grade studies
and may be easily mastered, and also
that 1t does not require specialist,
possessing more than the ordinary fit
ness for his profession to teach them,
must be DISMISSED from fhe minds OF
our high school officials.
A student passing on an average OF
% per cent in a Latin examination
ranks high. A student OF the COM
mercial branches must reach the max
imun requirement TO succeed III tie
business world Failing In one OUT IT
ten entries or transcribtng correctly
nine letters out OF ten will bar the door
Of the modern business office II such r
bookkeeper or stsnographer. A Young
man who were to apply the ordinary
principles of contracts correctly nine
timesl out OF ten in his transactions
would end In failure.
Recently the writer knew OF Two
high school graduates who applied tor
vacancies In clerical positions with 10
cal firms. Not being prepared. they
were nor employed The places were
filled by two young men who had, RS
4 basis. about the first two years hlgh
school work. and IN. addition. knowl-
edge Of the business branches. The
first two mentioned do not intend TO
return to school, unless 10 pursue a
business course: the other two expect
10 attend college later, one paying
Ibis expenses out Of present salary.
q No attempr is here made to under
rate the Importance and value OF the
regular high school course. but simply
10 make a plea for a very important
place In the high school curriculum
for practical education. It In rru"
that teaching boy how TO live is OF
even greater Importance than teachirg
him how to earn living.
Whenever the importance o. The
commercial branches and what they
mean to qualify young people 10 do
tho things that will be required OF
them in the business world Ia properly
appreciated by our school offcials.
our high schools will make provision
20 accomplish tfs original purpose OF
the public schools
J. W COOK.