South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-03
INEFFICIENCY IN
SCHOOLS CHARGED
Claim Is Made That CONNER
CiaI Department Fails to
Graduate Students.

Charges made in a communica-
ton TO The News-Times that the
high school commercial department
is inefficient and that the establish
ment OF a commercial course for
seventh and eighth grade students
at the grammar school is a mistake
were denied Friday morning BY
school authorities. Both Supt Of
school J. F. Nuner and John A. By
ers. principal of the grammar
school. upheld the action Of the
school board in giving commercial
courses in the grammar grades.
Something like So pupils at the
grammar school have enrolled in
the bookkeeping course there.
Bookkeeping Will be the only COM
mercial course given this semester,
but IL is planned 20 enlarge the de-
partment later and give stenogra-
ply. typewriting and other business
courses. Principal Byers said that
"A small beginning was being made
ir order that the pupils could grad
ually work into the other subjects.
In defending the action OF the
school authorities L. giving book
keeping 20 the grammar school pu-
pills. both Mr.. Nuner and Mr.. By
ers pointed out that practically all
OF the children who were taking
work In this subject were students
who probably will not have a chance
TO 20 10 either high school or bust
ness college
Both Of the educators said that
the course was given in order 20 al
low the pupils 20 gain a knowledge
of bookkeeping for their own per
sonal use and not with the idea that
they would go into offices as trained
bookkeepers They said that chill
dren who might later enter business
for themselves might benefit by the
knowledge Of the subject gained
while i'm school.
In referring 20 the charge that
only a small percentage Of the stu
dents who take commercial work in
the high school graduate. Supt. NJ
ner said that many OF them took
the subjects merely as sidelines He
pointed out that the pupils realize
the necessity OF having "A knowledge
of business methods, regardless of
whether they take up Office work as
q profession after leaving school.
lie said that many pupils in this
department leave school before
completing their courses.
NJ. u. Puterbaugh, president Of
the South Bend Business college.
charged that there was something
wrong with the commercial depart
ment OF the nigh school when only
seven out OF 40 students taking
the courses were graduated in that
department. He said that three OF
these graduates were working in Of
ices now. two came TO his school
10 finish their courses, one had gone
TO college and the seventh could not
De accounted for.
Mr. Puterbaugh said that there
was a heavy depand from business
men for office help at the present
time. He charged that il the
school authorities were spending the
publc's money 20 maintain a COM
mercial department in connection
with the city schools. the depart
ment should be efficient enough 10
at least partly supply the demand
for office help. He said that he was
not CLAIMING that the instructors
were not competent. pointing out
that many Of the teachers were ex-
ceptionally well trained. but ne add
ed that something was lacking some
place.
One Of Mr.. Puterbaugh's greatest
objections 10 the idea OF giving com
mercial subjects 20 grammar school
pupils. according to his own state
ments, is that the children are too
young. He said that business men
would not hire 15-year-old children
10 take charge Of their books or
handle their correspondence.