New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-13
loo Much Specialization
Dulls Initiative and Con-
stricts Field of
Young Men.

d
personnel.
The great majority OF the young men
who enter commercial life to-day. must
look forward to a business career that
viii consist in helping to carry out the
service and profit objects Of an organiza-
ton. The greater the size OF the organi-
zation the finer the division OF labor will
De- and the further the individual will
orut from the comprehensive training and
viewpoint Of the small trader or business
man who performs all the functions Of his
business, from unlocking the door in the
morning to the carrying Of the cash till to
his bedroom for safe keeping during the
night
! Inc young man in New York. for exam
pie who seeks training in commercial
high school, for a prospective place in
business is under the guidance OF teachers
receiving part Of the city's annual sal
airy payment OF So, O0JO0O made TO in
structors OF many grades which are CO.
ordinated and directed by principles I'M
known TO the previous generations. This
young man travels to his classes by trans
portation lines manned by employees who
Mt snugly into organization mortises,
varying I'm size according 10 the needs Of
the organization and the capacities OF the
individual.
The same young man viii robably Sc
cure an interview for r position through
a newspaper that lives and circulates by
reason OF organization. perhaps without
the name OF single individual to show
its ownership or direction. He will meet
an organization employee charged with
the duty OF sorting. roughly. the human
material for his organization grooves. II
il is an efficient organization il will
polish off the rough edges OF the young
ster, and he will catch step, fit his groove
and, we hope, prepare himself for more
important grooves
This prospect uninvitng as il may ap-
pear at first sight, is not so bleak after
ALL when II is considered in all OF its
bearings. for the return that can be Sc
cured through harmonious and concerted
effort is incalculable. In any event, those
who are interested IN the matter OF
bringing about greater usefulness and
! happiness in this workaday world must
take the conditions as they are and as
| changes as may be reasonably expected
TO come.
There is no question OF the desirablity
of certain preliminary preparation for
business. A common school education IS
a necessary theoretical preparation. and
a considerably greater academic educa-
ton, depending upon the particular bust
ness activity in mind, is often sought and
obtained. The business man himself has
by Individual teaching. by apprentice
ship and in later days by organized educa-
tional programmes made an effort TO
train his subordinates
| Between the two during the last fifty
years considerable effort has been ex-
pended by so-called commercial schools,
by the public schools and by the colleges
and universities to give a training that
will enable the Individual 20 obtain in
business reader and fuller success
than would otherwise be possible.
The attempt has often been made 10
give training in actual business practice.
Play money, play counters and other
paraphernalia have been used in the hope
I Of training the student in the duties OF
a specific position, from which he could
jump 10 the same duties in actual bust
ness without the trouble OF mastering
and understanding the application OF
principles.
A smattering Of law has usually en-
tered into the attempt 70 train for bust
ness Only recently have the economic
principles OF wealth and trade. so essen
tial 10 an understanding Of business, been
included, and then usually as a theo-
retical subject quite distinct from the
more specific things that usually come 10
mind. in the first instance. as essentials
I'm maintaining a position in tho business
world.
Nv belief is that we should first look
for the sciences that are fundamental TO
I ORGANIZED business as We know II to-day,
and then teach the principles OF these
sciences with sufficient illustrations 10 en-
able the student to secure later a control
of specific things. This control is destined
10 give him a distinct usefulness from the
dav OF his employment, and a distinct use
fulness accompanied on his part by an
understanding of the relation that his
work bears 10 the work of the organiza-
ton as a whole. The sciences. so far as
am able TO judge, are three IN nuhoeI-
economics, law and Accounting.
Wealth provides the tools by which ef-
fort is made more productive, and is a
prerequisite to the organized EFFORT OF
modern commercial life. The securement
of capital, its control, use and increase
are matters that have been reduced TO
principles that can be grasped by the M
teen-year-old, especially il they are
stripped Of their mystery and made clear
by reference to the practical expressions
that can be found on every hand.
The object Of organized effort is proht'
or such an increase in the capital in hand
as may be distributed and consumed; ana
the voungster who enters upon CONNER
ciai career without an understanding OF
the object In mind and Of the effect or
csrelessness and waste upon such an Cd
,ect is unnecessarily handicapped at the
outset These principles presented in their
o,plied form are of surprisingly great
,r,erest 10 the young student, and even
a. an early age an Interest can be MAIN
,oined that is I'm distinct contrast to the
in,erest displayed in other useful but alb
a..act studies, such as higher maine
MATES. for example
The subject of economies therefore IN
a. o,nl,ed form. including the topic oil
,,.oaltb and its use in organized enort' i
c., and the basic science OF all the
'"N -. ,,-,et he taught as prepa-