Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-10
PUPILSPREFER
BUSINESS and
TRADECLASSE
Commercial Courses Are Popu.
lar at Public and Church
Schools of City.

The scholar who said that the World
War had not been fought IN vain II
it had accomplished no greater thing
than Turing mankind back to an ap-
probation of the classics and education
in general as opposed to the CONNER
cial spirit of the age would have some
disappointing light shed upon this mat
ter were he to take statistics from the
average educational institution.
In the grade schools of Great Falls,
il is not possible to predict what bent
the pupils will show when they have
passed across the threshold of grade
school life. But it is a safe if dis
~couraging bet, TO say that perhaps fully
IS per cent will enroll for commercial
study, or that particular line of stury
that is best fitted to enable them to
take their places in the business world
in many different capacities.
Commercial Glasses Popular
A total of 1.157 pupils are now en-
rolled at Central high school. Tabula-
tons have o been made for each of
the courses as yet. Last year a large
PERCENTAGE of the students were TAX
ing commercial work as opposed to
classical. Scientific, which is later
diverted to business ends too. is q
popular line of study for both boys
and girls. If the boys and girls study
the classics during their high school
years it is often because they will 60
10 the Great Falls Commercial col
lege to study typewriting, shorthand
bookkeeping or other things that will
10 them. At the commercial college
a new enrolment of 40 was listed last
week.
The number Of pupils attending a
school of this sort is never stationery,
changing from week to week because OF
the fact that one may matriculate at
any time. Many of the 40 are gradu-
ates of the local high school class of
90, according TO f. S. Wolfe of the
school. The women outnumber the
men at the present time, but this win
change later in the year when boys
come in from the country to begin
their business training, he said. Girls
take the secretarial course usually in
preference to the straight bookkeeping
work, he said.
Church Schools Larger
At the Catholic schools of the city,
enrollments have not been officially
announced as yet. All report an in
crease in attendance, however. At St.
Thomas Orphans home. where only
grade work is conducted, there are
about 175 boys. This number is
steadily increasing and is larger than
the number schooled at the home last
year.
st. Mary'B high school, where there
are $50 pupils. and which will number
many more when fall tasks are over,
also reports a preference on the part
of the students for the commercial
work. Even If 1t is mingled with the
classical courses, the average student
wishes to dilute his education with a
dram Of commercialism, which he ex-
poets to find useful in making his
way to fame and fortune in the bust
ness world. The attendance at the high
school this year Is an increase of about
80 pupils.
Enrollments for the different courses
at the high school have not been an
bounced by Principal Bruce e. Mill
kin. Preference for commercial work
will. however. be in the lead, 1t is be-
Iieved. The attendance at the grade
and high public schools Of the city is
approximately 5000, but absolute fig
ures cannot be given until the pupils
have all registered and the number
has become stationary which will not
be the case for two months.