North Salem High School - Echo Yearbook (North Salem, IN)

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KNOW YOUR BUSINESS DEPARTMENT ls it worthwhile ? Of what does it consist? Who takes it? These are some of the questions to be answered in the following article. First let us see what courses are offered and to what students. The commer- cial course starts in the sophomore year and continues through high school. Be- ginning and advanced typing are offered. It will be useful in everyday life, in letter writing, both social and business correspondenceg in writing papers in school and themes in collegeg in making our contracts and legal docurnents. In short it can be used wherever writing is needed. Then there is always the opportunity open for earning one's bread and butter with such a tool. lt is excellent training in accuracy, in neatness, in concentration, and in arranging material on the page in an artistic, well-balanced manner. In the second year we learn to write the various kinds of letter forms, such as the block style, indented style, and inverted paragraph style. We learn to write such legal papers as leases, deeds, proxies, contracts and agreements of various kinds, and other manuscripts such as min- utes of meetings, annual reports, resolutions, inventories and many others, At the same tirne we keep up our norrnal increase i.n speed and accuracy. Another subject in our department is bookkeeping. This is not designed merely for those students who expect to enter the business world as bookkeepers or office workers. Each student is given training in the fundamental principles of business that are needed by every member of society regardless of his vocation. Some of the practical business procedures in the course are keeping a check book, personal cash records, records for lodges or social organizations, proper checking of in- voices and bills, and a knowledge of the purpose of the principal business papers. By keeping an accurate record of our expenditures, we can more easily make them fit our income and arrange for the accumulation of savings. What we learn about the interpretation of financial statements should enable us to invest our savings in business ventures with a more intelligent knowledge. Many excellent positions are open to those who wish to go further into the subject of bookkeeping and ac- counting. With the advent of the sales tax, the income tax, etc. in our state and national governments, an increasing amount of bookkeeping and clerical help is needed. In addition to this, the Social Security Act requires firms to keep accurate and complete records. For this work, training in bookkeeping is a valuable asset, The efficiency of the shipping clerk, the stock clerk, the salesman, and the stenog- rapher will be greatly increased if they can keep accurate and systematic records of business transactions. Shorthand is another of our favorite subjects. Success in it depends largely upon the interest, It is the highest form of writing, which is itself the greatest invention of man. We are proud to be able to record the language in graceful lines and curves. Skill in the use of shorthand is a possession that has been coveted by the wisest of men and women, for it is not only a practical instrurnent in com- mercial work, but a much-prized and valuable accomplishment and a means of mental culture. The outcomes we strive to attain are to encourage the develop- ment of a comprehensive vocabulary of understanding, teach an efficient handling of pen, notebook, letters, carbon paper, etc., help students to acquire a usable, practical knowledge of the fundarnentals of English and business usage that can be applied instantly to transcription, develop correct posture and health habits, en- courage good personal qualities and a love for stenography, cultivate office stand- ards in conduct and workmanship. This is one of the highest paid office jobs. It can also be used for personal use in taking notes in the classroom, etc. 30

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The other course offered in our department is office practice. It is of value to any student, regardless of what course he is pursuing or intends to pursue. It teaches the fundamental principles of business, such as everyone should have in order to manage his own personal business affairs. We learn the use of checks, drafts, promissory notes and money orders. A great deal of time is devoted to business forms and terminology, and also we are taught all about endorsements of negotiable papers. We learn how to ship goods by parcel post, express, and freight -- the difference between an order bill of lading and a straight bill of lading and when to use each. I consider it an irnportant step in the preparation for life, regardless of one's occupation. It informs us on the social and economic problems of today. We shall be better producers and consurners because of our ability to in- terpret business facts. In this class, too, we publish the school paper, The Booster. This is enjoyed by everyone and is of benefit also. ln this work we learn to use the rnimeograph and mimeoscope, learn to type stencils and the use of other art equipment. The equipment we have includes a mimeograph, a mimeoscope, Z3 typewriters, and a liquid duplicator. In the future we hope to have a calculator, comptometer and voice recording machine so that a course in office machines can be given. These machines are used in most business offices and there is always a demand for operators. This would give us a well-rounded business education. There is a high percentage of our graduates who use their knowledge of com- mercial work in making their living or in helping finance their college work. In the last two years' classes there are eleven students who are now working and some of this year's class intend to do so. Those from the last two years' are BS follows: Marcella Courtney--insurance officeg Barbara Francis--limestone company officeg Wynona Leathers--comptometer school, Betty Simon--license bureau office, Phyllis Stewart--insurance office, Lois Daugherty--insurance of- fice, Dorothy Duncan--office, Theda Hawkins--office, Marjorie Lee--office and Harriet and Mary Nichols are helping earn their way through college by office work. Not only do these girls have office jobs, but most of them pay nearly as well as business school graduates receive. This is proof that your high school com- mercial department is irnportant and in closing I quote from an article in The Business Education World, We need only to realize that a community judgesw school by the business graduates. We are happy to have this opportunity to present some of our work. We ex- tend a cordial invitation to you to visit our regular classes at any tirne and see more of the things we are doing. Mrs. Kloster 31