Sparks College - Yearbook (Shelbyville, IL)

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Courses of Study The following seven tried, tested, result- getting, diploma courses of study are offered with the assurance that they are practical, modern, thorough. They conform to the highest standards of business-training procedure - no frills - just essentials. All diploma courses are college level, and are taught by college- trained instructors. Full credit is given for previous training in commercial work. The time required to finish a course is estimated. Students are urged to complete the courses as rapidly as possible, consistent with doing the work right. Stenographic Course The Stenographic Course qualifies grad- uates to take dictation at 150 words a minute and t T3e vrite at 60 words a minute. The course provides good background in related business subjects, such as English, spelling, punctu- ation, filing, office procedure, and machines. The student may take either Gregg Short- hand or the Stenograph. Time r equired - 10 months Secretarial Course This course contains all of the work in the Stenographic Course, plus secretarial accounting and special work in secretarial practice. Time required - 12 months Executive Secretarial Course This course is designed for those students who wish to qualify for the more demanding secretarial positions which require higher skills and more detailed information in prep- aration for work with top executives, and for promotion into the administrative field. Time required - 20 months Junior Accounting Course This course offers a general knowledge of accounting. Students obtain a general knowl- edge of business procedure. Laboratory work in accounting as taught in this course gives the students the practical side of accounting. They are experienced. Arithmetic, English, spelling, and commercial law make the course complete. Time required - 10 months Higher Accounting Course This course is a development of the Jun ior Accounting Course. Additional higher accounting, auditing, and income-tax account- ing, as well as business organization and management, help make this course strong and worth while. This course offers thorough training in accounting and business procedure. Time required - 20 months General Business Training Course The General Business Training Course embodies both the Junior Accounting Course and the Stenographic Course. The knowledge of both of these courses enables the graduate to be very versatile in handling the business affairs of the office. This often means better employment and a better future. Time required - 18 months Reporting Course This course is the extension of the Steno- graphic in the development of the ability to take dictation at 200 words a minute and write 75 words a minute on the typewriter. Special dictation applicable to court and convention work is given. Special Work - Non-diploma Civil Service Comptometer Business Machines Filing Special Subjects Plan of Instruction This school takes into consideration the success of the individual student, rather than the promotion of any particular plan or system of education. Where a group may be instructed in class to good advantage, this is done. Individual instruction is given whenever nec- essary. In some cases, the lecture method is used. Laboratory work is an important part of the instruction.

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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?

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First Commencement Coming up to the end of the first year with the idea of high-school commencement in mind, Mr. arks thought it would be wise to have a baccalaureate sermon preached, and to hold commencement exercises. The first baccalaureate sermon was preached by the Presbyterian Minister, Reverend John A. Tracy. The members of this first graduating class were. Bookkeeping: Mr. Raymond Kingston, Mr. Benjamin M. Parish, Mr. Harry Pauschert, Mr. Harmon L. Ruff, Mr. Clair I. Storm, and Mr. Leslie R. Tallman; Shorthand: Mr. George A. Bowman, Miss EvaE. Fought, Miss Alta Harriette Jenkins, Miss Edna Marguerite South, Miss Grace Eleanor Thorn, and Miss Martha E. Ulmer. The commencement exercises were held in the Methodist Church. ssar UPPER ROW: A. J. Steidley, Benjamin M. Parish, Martha E. Ulmer, Mae Lewis, Harry Pauschert, Clair I. Storm, Grace Thom, Eva E. Fought, H. D. Sparks. LOWER ROW: Marguerite South, Harmon L. Ruff, Alta Jenkins, George Bowman, Raymond Kingston.