Gem City Business College - Yearbook (Quincy, IL)

Page 21 text:

♦ ♦ Importance of Commercial Studies ♦ ♦ TOO much emphasis cannot be placed on the value of the commercial and short- hand subjects. The branches compris- ing our courses are extremely practical to any one who expects to engage in business either for himself or for others. Our courses cf study have been very care- fully worked out. and are now the result of forty years of improvement. We have kept them up to the highest standard in order to fully meet the exacting demands of the busi- ness public. The science of bookkeeping should be un- derstood by everyone whether he expects to put this knowledge to actual use or not. The proprietor or manager of a business should be as well posted as the man who takes charge of the books. The practice of bookkeeping and stenography is very pleasant and profita- ble, and those who are skilled in these sub- jects are in constant demand in business offices. There is a large call at all times for thoroughly competent stenographers and bookkeepers. In order to make a success of bookkeeping or office work, however, it is necessary to be proficient in the different branches of the courses we offer. A knowledge of commercial law is of great importance. One who understands the princi- ples of contracts is qualified to draw up his own agreements as well as to pass upon the legal points in contracts presented to him by others. Every business man should under- stand negotiable instruments and the various rules of law in connection with their use; such as, endorsements, details of presentment, col- lection, protests, etc. He should likewise be familiar with the rules of agency, partner- ship, and corporations, so that he may act in any of these capacities with a clear under- standing of his rights and duties. The pur- chase and sale of goods, the rules of shipping through common carriers, the conveyance of property both by deed and by will, and many other points of interest to everyone are care- fully taken up in connection with our business course. The subject of mathematics is everywhere recognized as essential in the mental develop- ment of young people. In our business and full combination courses, commercial arithme- tic is given an important place. The work is subdivided into three sections in different grades of advancement. Only those subjects are treated that are directly useful in the busi- ness office or factory. Higher forms of mathe- matics are not taken up, but much attention is given to practical work. The rapid calculation work is given special attention, daily drills being held in which ac- curacy and speed are made of first importance. Adding, multiplying, the use of aliquots, com- puting interests and discounts, averaging ac- counts, etc.,. are dwelt on until each student is proficient in these valuable accomplishments. It is surprising to what degree of proficiency one may be trained and developed in this work. Penmanship. Too much stress cannot be placed upon the importance of a good hand- writing for business purposes. All the stu- dents of the business department receive daily lessons in penmanship by efficient teachers. There is no extra charge for taking the sub- ject of business penmanship. For those who desire to specialize in penmanship or to be- come teachers of such, we have an elegantly equipped Normal Penmanship department pre- sided over by Prof. Behrensmeyer, who de- votes his whole time to the different branches of the beautiful art. There is a separate tuition for the Normal Course in penmanship Letter writing i an important part of our business, shorthand, and penmanship courses. The student is taught the correct forms, and given a large amount of practice in writing letters on various business subjects. The sub- jects of punctuation and correct business English are taught in connection with the letter writing work. Spelling is an accomplishment that every- one should endeavor to acquire. It is unfor- tunate that the public schools of the country are not giving the attention to the subject of orthography that they formerly did. Those who take our courses of study have daily drills in written spelling, and all are brought up to a high standard of proficiency before finishing the courses. Our actual business and banking depart- ment is very practical and interesting. In this department the student learns to transact dif- ferent kinds of business just as it is done in the outside world. He learns business man- agement and auditing as well as bookkeeping. In this department, he puts into practice the facts, customs, and principles learned in the other parts of the course. All our students are enthusiastic in their praises of this depart- ment of the school, an d many of them after going into business for themselves write us that what they learned in this department has been of great benefit to them in making a success. Shorthand has come to be a necessity for both young men and women who expect to make the greatest success in business life. There is a large field for those who qualify themselves thoroughly in shorthand and type- writing, and the other branches of this course. Th ere is no more pleasant occupation than that of amanuensis or reporter. Shorthand has been the stepping stone for hundreds of prominent people who are now at the head of large institutions. Shorthand, especially, fur- nishes an easy avenue of advancement to young men who wish to get into large busi- ness enterprises for themselves. Typewriting of course is an adjunct of shorthand; they naturally go together. In connection with our courses of study, our students become familiar with the various modern office devices, such as the adding machine, the mimeograph, the letter-press, and other duplicating devices, check protect- ors, etc.

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Advanced Bookkeeping Department The cut at the right shows the Advanced Bookkeeping department. The work here is a continuation of the business branches. The more advanced principles of ac- counting are taught and applied to different lines of busi- ness. Penmanship is continued with its application to business forms, page writing, and letter writing. Orthog- raphy is also given attention, and the student prepares for further advancement to the Actual Business and Bank- ing department, where he puts into use the principles he has learned in the other departments of the school. After completing this part of the work and finishing the other branches satisfactorily, the beautiful diploma is issued. Introductory Bookkeeping Department The cut at the left shows the Introductory Bookkeep- ing department in session. This department is elegantly fitted up for the work of the business branches. On com- mencing, the student is assigned a commodious desk, with drawers provided for his books and supplies. Here he i instructed in the principles of bookkeeping by competent teachers, both at his desk and by means of lectures. In this department also he learns to write an elegant business hand under the instruction of a careful teacher. Here he has his daily exercises in written spelling, and here he prepares his lessons in arithmetic, commercial law, and the other subjects of the course. After progressing suffi- ciently in the different studies, the student is transferred to the Advanced department.

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Actual Business and Banking Department G. C. B. C. from a Photograph WE PRESENT herewith a photographic view of a section of the the department as it looks in working order. The banks and other offices Actual Business and Banking Department of the Gem City situated in the back part of the room do not show very clearly, on account Business College, taken while in session. The picture does not of the distance from the camera. Many of the offices do not show at all, do justice to the room, yet it will give the reader a general impression of being located in the section of the room not shown in the photograph. —