Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-18
JOHN G. KIRK
On Commercial Education in the High
Schools

VII IuuSosAo' ~ WV --'s''
Schools
TIIE ever. widening possibilities offered by
the high schools of Philadelphia present
commercial educational advantages OF which
,ho pnrents of the students who are eligible
for these courses are generally in ignorance.
saws John G. Kirk. director OF commercial
odncation of the public school system OF the
city.
"The idea of commercial education. said
Mr., Kirk. lis to develop in the high schools
Cthe yearly courses Of which start IN rem
ruary of each year, definite unit courses
So tint each boy or girl who attends Tor Il
farm and then for any reason. has to dis
continue his or her education. receives dehnite
instruction which will fit him or h"r for such
postion as he or she must take az thnt
time, Each Of these courses Is complet" III
itself. but each rours" simply lays ninr loumGno
lion for the instruction of tn" succeeding
term, In other words. each course Is
foundation upon which the supcrstructure OF
the succeeding terms may be erected
Demand for Commercial Work
"Commercia' work has been feature OF
,hc curriculum of the PHILADELPHIA high
schools for about thirty years. 1t was
started when there was a popular demand
for II, and the demand has been such, ever
since the time of its inauguration thnt ever
increasing expansion has been required.
This cxpansion has been in the line OF Offer
ing varied subjects in which instruction may
ho given. so a. to fit the student for slch
position as his inclination and abilities
may direct.
"It han be'n our experience that q boy
seldom takes the academic course lhcrc-
fore it is II good idea for him. II ne mas
that he has not either the opportunity or
the inclination to 60 to college to select
some lin, of commercial work that will be
practical gain to him. If this is his
inclination. he will get good deal more out
Of subjects which deal with the practical
side of life than ont of the purely academic
branches. which many Of them do not like
and which many others have not the ability
20 mHste-.
"rhorc is n generally accepted idea among
thc rcoplc at large that the high school
| courses on commercial training give tho
student little practical insight and actual
training IN the varions subjects. rms is Il
students receiv1 in the high schools on com
mcrrinl subjects is both thorough and prac
| tical, and the graduate is fitted TO compete
| in actual knowledge and some experience
with the most competent men in that line
! of work
Combining knowledge and Practice
"Thcsc courses are laid out and
deyelopcd that the student who takes them
| has n good foundation in academic work
! MS we'll rs Il pract ical knowledge of the work
| which he is to do. lie is prepared in many
| ways for the battle Of life, and there are
! practically no limits to the possibilities OF
| advancement Of the students who take these
courses.
'The plan is to give general background,
| which il best achieved by some Of the aca
| demic lines, and then to erect the CONNER
| cial superstructure upon this foundation.
| Thus the students receive practical train
| ing for their work in life.
| "In other words. the high schools of
Philadelphia offer the boys and girls Of the
| CITY n thorough training for business The
| groups of business studies which are open
| 70 them are Of three types. One grOup gives
| emphnsis to bookkeeping. business institu-
tions. customs and practices another trains
| the student to be n stenographer. II typst
n filing clerk. clerical assistant or n
secretary Still n third gives general infor.
nation about banking. production, manu- =
| focturng. marketing, transportation, Office
management, salesmanship and commercial
| law.
Increasing Earning Power
"As the course in the high school bust :.
ness training is now organized. the boys
and girls of the city are assured that with
| each years advance in the high school
| life there will be nn increasing earning
| nowcr through th" additional training and
r.h,cntion which is there secured. and at the
game time the hoy or the girl who finishes