Pikeville High School - Panther Yearbook (Pikeville, KY)

Page 103 text:

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT The Business Department of Pikeville High School was organized in the fall of 1925. For some years there had been an ever-increasing demand for well trained office help in Pike County. This department was established to meet this need. Before that time it was necessary for our young people to go several hundred miles to secure a first-class business education. Dr. J. H. Mullin, the first instructor, organized the work and put it on an operating basis. He left in the spring of 1926 and Mr. Arthur L. Danburg of St. Lawrence, South Dakota, came to take charge of the department. The work has been carried on under his direction since that time. The addition of Business Training has meant a great deal to Pikeville and Pike County. The young folk who have benefited by this instruction are to be found in the offices throughout eastern Kentucky. The High School provides at little cost the same training as is given by schools when a student must go away from home. Many adults above the regular school age have taken advan- tage of the opportunity and have taken work during the past several years. It has been the policy of the school to offer only one year courses of in- tensive training, thus shortening the period of actual school attendance. This makes the work available for many who could not otherwise attend. There is now offered one year of Shorthand, single period; one year of Bookkeeping, double period; one year of Typewriting, double period; one-half year of Busi- ness English, single period; and Penmanship. It is hoped that the curriculum will be expanded with the more complete rounding out of the High School pro- gram in the next few years. The equipment used is efficient and up-to-date. There are thirty-five Un- derwood Typewriters, about a year old. The department is also provided with a Burrough ' s Adding Machine, Mimeograph, Mimeoscope and thirty comfort- able bookkeeping desks. The school is trying to make the work as practical as possible so that the step from school to office will not be so noticeable. During the present school year forty-two students have enrolled in Book- keeping; ninety-five in Typewriting; twenty-seven in Shorthand. The depart- ment has been holding its own and making considerable gain every year. If only a small percentage of these young people actually made use of what they are learning, the department more than pays for itself. The cost of main- tenance is not over $3,000.00 per year, which would not equal the earning power of a single student for two years after he goes to work. The Business Department has been very efficient, as evidenced by the large number of successful young men and women from our school holding posi- tions in Pikeville and the surrounding territory. You will find them in nearly every office in town. The young people of Pike County who really want to make useful citizens of themselves can secure first class training in the Pikeville High School and Business Department.