The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-03-31

HAMPTON institute Offers Ideal
Business Course
VIEWS OF WILLIAM s. O0OD

offseIai Of influential Virginia institu-
tlon RsIatss What 10 Being Done 70
Prepare Young Men and Women to
Meet the Needs Of Our Race In the
Duslnsss World.
Hampton, Va.-William 9. Dodd. who
10 in charge Of the Hampton institute
business course. has written an inter.
esting account Of the way In which
Hampton 10 training students for high
grade business positions. Mr.. Dodd In
q recent report says;
The National Negro Business league,
organized by Booker Washington and
composed Of scores Of local leagues
scattered throughout thirty-one states.
10 yearly becoming more beneficial In
its influence.
The league has served to awaken In
tho Negro q sense Of his business
shortcomings. has taught him the ne
cessity and value Of cooperation and
Is gradually leading him to an appre-
citation Of the approved business meth
DDS employed BY the white man The
need Of trained business men to direct
and manage the various business en-
terprises Of tho Negro is crying one.
while the opportunities that are open
to him are many and alluring.
In no sphere Of activity has the Ne
gro a greater opportunity for useful
ness and success than in agriculture
Success in farming, however, ID large
ly dependent on the practical applica
uon and use Of correct business meth.
DDS. What Is true in the case Of agri-
culture ID also to a great extent true OF
the various trades In which the race is
becoming 90 largely engaged.
Hampton's business course 10 plan
ned with q view to meet and supply.
40 far a. It can, the needs Of the Ne
gro business world. The course ID, one
Of four years. Thirty boys are now
taking this course, and yearly IN.
crease In numbers 10 probable. An ex.
ceptional and valuable feature Of the
course 10 the advantage offered In the
fourth year Of daily work In the vari.
Gus ofices Of the Hampton school The
student 70 thus enabled to gain by
actual contact and handling a practical
knowledge Of business practices This
feature furnishes another instance OF
Hampton's educational method OF
learning by doing"
Some Of tho subjects taught In the
course are such 40 form the basis OF
every practical and well balanced busi-
ness curriculum. Bookkeeping, stenog-
raphy, typewrtting. English, penman-
ship and commercial arithmetic are
the fundamentals. The thorough In.
struction which II given In the sub.
jects mentioned nts young men to serve
eflciently In clerical az well as In Ger
tain larger business positions. A pur-
pose Of the course, however, 10 q wider
one than merely to train young men
to be bookkeepers. typewriters or Ste
nographers. important and necessary
a. this Ia.
The race today stands in need Of
business leaders who are thoroughly
equipped and able to inaugurate, or.
yanize and direct business enterprises.
3esides. then, the subjects already
stated a practical study is made OF
business transactions, methods and
law, and there Is an effort to stir in
lt1ativs and to give grasp and vision.
Experience has already shown that
this broader purpose may reasonably
be expected to be realized In some
cases.
Aside from this exclusive business
course, there Is given a short course
In practical business matters. The
Negro generally Is sadly lacking in q
knowledge Of such matters and conse-
quently is too often victimized or suf-
fers unnecessary loss. The aim Of this
short course of four months Is to give
to the student knowledge sufficient
for him to understand and to handle
the ordinary matters of business. This
course IL made as practical In its bear
Ing as possible. and the topics studied
are such as are suggested by existing
needs and conditions. Deeds, mort.
cages, wills, banking, taxes and insur
ance are among the subjects studied.
All the girls take this course. and as
most of them are to be teachers they
will be In positions to impart to others
the knowledge they themselves have
received. In this way the influence
and value Of the course will be made
farreaching. Every boy and girl while
at Hampton receives some instruction
In business.
One Of the graduates Of the Hamp-
ton business course. Don A. Davis, is
now the efficient cashier Of the Hamp-
ton school. while two others, William
NJ. Rich and Il. Fl. Vaughn. are In
charge of a Negro bank In Norfolk.
This bank under their successful man
agement has grown into a large insti