Sparks College - Yearbook (Shelbyville, IL)

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Dr. John R. Gregg and Mr. Sparks Friends Mr. Sparks knew the late Dr. John R. Gregg, author of Gregg Shorthand, personally and well. In fact, he advised with him several times about the establish- ment of a school. Mr. Gregg was a very kindly gentleman, and wise. When Mr. Sparks finally decided to cast his lot in Sheibyville, Mr. Gregg said, Why, Sparks, why do you want to start a school in that little Godforsaken town? Mr. Sparks answered, I don ' t know about its being Godforsaken. I doubt that it is. I do know the city is smaller in size than are the cities in which most business colleges are located, but, Mr. Gregg, we are going to do good enough work that folks will come to the school regardless of the size of the town or where it is. Mr. Gregg sharply replied, Ha! You are going to grow the proverbial violet by the wayside, so that those who desire to see it will beat their way to it, even though it be through untrodden and unbroken fields. Mr. Sparks answered, Well, I don ' t know about the violet business, but I believe we ' ll do it. Another thing Mr. Gregg and Mr. Sparks discussed was the speed that should be required for graduation in shorthand. Mr. Sparks announced to Mr. Gregg, Now, I have decided that graduates of our institution will need to take dictation at 150 words a minute. Mr. Gregg replied, Do you think that is necessary? Most of the schools are satisfied with 110 or 120 words a minute, and some not even so much. Here you propose to start a new school and ask people to write 150 words a minute. Why do you do it? Mr. Sparks replied, Mr. Gregg, I am of the opinion that between 120 words a minute and 150 words a minute shorthand will become second nature. Mr. Gregg replied, Well, that is a thought. I never thought about it just that way, but I believe it is worth trying. About three years after the school was established, Mr. Sparks had a visit with Mr. Gregg. Well, Mr. Sparks, he said, I am going to have to give it to you. You are doing what you said you would do. The folks are hunting up the modest violet. Then, too, these graduates of yours, with the ability to take shorthand dictation at 150 words a minute, show they are trained. Good luck, old man, good luck. Through- out the years that Dr. Gregg lived, he and Mr. Sparks were good friends. Business English Questioned A peculiar incident took place toward the end of the first year. All of the students were taking Business English. The teacher came to Mr. Sparks and said, 1 gave these folks a test the other day, and most of them failed. What are you going to do about it? Mr. Sparks said, They are going to pass those tests. You are going to pound that stuff into them, after I talk to them. She said, I ' ll be interested to know what you say. Mr. Sparks replied, Just let them come together at their regular class hour tomorrow, and I will be there ready to take over. It was evident to Mr. Sparks that these students felt that they had had twelve years of English in the elementary and high schools, and they didn ' t need Business English. They went through the form of going along with the teacher, but when the written tests came, they just couldn ' t pass them. Mr. Sparks told them that promptly, and said to them, this, You wouldn ' t be worth a dime as stenographers without a good knowledge of English. You have a good basic understanding of English that you got from the high schools, but you haven ' t had enough. Now, you folks go to work here under the direction of this good teacher and do what she tells you, and vou can pass the tests, but you may as well know that cither this school is going to turn out competent graduates or it will lock its doors. You won ' t be competent stenographers without grades in English, and you won ' t graduate without the grades. There were some startled faces, but the students went to work, and, with proper application and a good teacher in charge, they came through with grades in Business English. No class since that time has ever questioned the necessity of having a good understanding of Business English.

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MISS CHRISTMAN MRS. NEWLIN In the course of fifty years, many good teachers have come and gone. Believing that many former students would like a word about Miss Christman, Mrs. Newlin, Mrs. Mary Bruster Wade, and Mr. Ferguson, we present them to you. Miss Ethel Christman was connected with Sparks College and the Sparks College Office for fourteen years. She had complete charge of the Accounting Department, during which time bookkeeping became a science in the school. After resigning from the work in the school, she went to the Shelby Loan and Trust Company in Shelbyville, Illinois, where she was assistant cashier until her retirement recently. She has a fine record. Mrs. Treasie Newlin taught shorthand and typing in Sparks college eleven years. Some folks worry about being left-handed. Not so with Mrs. Newlin. She writes shorthand with her left hand. Along in the spring each year, she would carefully go over the record of each student for the year, to try to ascertain why all students had not measured up to her expectations. Since leaving Sparks, she is employed by the State Public Welfare Department, where she is very active in a responsible position. Mrs. Mary C. Bruster Wade is a sister of H. D. Sparks. Her first appearance in connection with Sparks College was managing a boarding club where students received good food at cost. She studied machine shorthand and later taught it in the school. Her smiling countenance and good cheer won for her many friends. For the past several years, she has been an invalid. She lives in the Moweaqua Hospital. Mr. Clarence Ferguson is the only person employed by Sparks College who served as a solicitor for more than six months. Mr. Ferguson was a highly educated man, and was at home in nearly any discussion. The school had no fears that extravagant statements would be made by him to a prospective student. Mr. Ferguson was not only a good solicitor, but a good teacher as well. He was at home with young people and admired by them. His passing was a real loss. Mrs. Lois Atkinson has headed the Stenographic Department for about seven years, during which time many stenographers have found their way into the business world. Usually there are more calls for stenog- raphers than the school can fill. MRS. WADE MR. FERGUSON MRS. ATKINSON

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High Standards Judge A. J. Steidley was the first teacher of Commercial Law, which he taught for four years. The Shorthand and Typing Department was first handled by Miss Mae Lewis, who came to Shelbyville from Detroit, Michigan. Like Mr. Gregg, she questioned the necessity for the 150-word-a-minute shorthand speed requirement. This rate, however, was required at the beginning of the school. During the years, the value of this extra speed has been proved over and over, and the original requirement has been maintained. To make the Accounting Department outstanding, Mr. Sparks instituted a laboratory or actual business practice program. .During the early years, he conducted this department himself. When a student has pro- gressed far enough in theory that he is able to handle simple accounts, he starts in Business Practice. The College National Bank, as far as books and regular machines are concerned, does the work of an actual bank, closing its books at the end of each day. At the end of each week, the one in charge of the bank must make the same report as is made to the Comptroller of Currency, showing the condition of the bank. In connection with and co-operating with the College National Bank, are the following offices: H. D. Sparks, Retail, through which the affairs are directed, George C. Heritage Company, College Railway Company, Lyle and Baker, Boling and Ruff, Adams Realty and Insurance Company, and Westervelt Commission Company. The different offices represent different lines of business, but the paramount idea is that each of these offices uses a different kind of set of books. All offices are balanced at the end of each week. Cash must agree with the bank, and balance with the other offices. This practice is directed by a manual which was writtenby the school. The student carries on a general line of business. Special checks, made by this school, and no others are used. The checking account must be reconciled with the bank each week. Is it £lny wonder that a student who leaves this school says very proudly and very promptly, I am an experienced bookkeeper! He is. The work is very interesting, but, best of it all, it is highly practical. The graduate not only knows the theory of accounting, but is actually an experienced accountant. There is no key. Newspapers Friendly There were two editors in this town, both of whom have gone to their Great Reward, who contributed an untold amount of good will and pages and pages of publicity that helped this school to get a place in the world, Mr. Isaac Storm, editor of the SHELBYVILLE DEMOCRAT, and his son, Mr. Orville Storm, city editor of the SHELBYVILLE DAILY UNION. While probably they didn ' t mention so many things about the school as did the Storms, yet the Shoaffs and the LEADER PUBLISHING COMPANY were always warm friends of the school. Meets tlie Test During the Teachers Institute held for Shelby County in Shelbyville in the summer of 1909, Mr. Henry D. Sparks lectured on commercial subjects. In one session, he asked all of the teachers to write a certain check under certain conditions. All checks were turned in to Mr. Sparks. He picked out the ten best, and gave them to the officials of the First National Bank, asking them to pick the best one. When they had done so, it was discovered that the person writing this check had been in Mr. Sparks ' s school the year before. Mr. Sparks was a bit embarrassed, but really pleased that the worth of this teaching was proved. How good a check can you write?