Sparks College - Yearbook (Shelbyville, IL)

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Development of Business Schools In the early yeaxs of Sparks College, the National Business Teachers ' Association was the only organization to which commercial teachers, of both public and private schools, paid particular attention. Soon after the founding of this school, however, the National Accredited Commercial Schools Association came into existence. One disreputable thing that some private business schools had been doing for quite some years was to guarantee a graduate a job or give his money back. The very first circular published by Mr. Sparks made this statement, We do not guarantee a job to anyone. We do guarantee our training to fit people to hold jobs, and we are interested in having our graduates at work. We work with them in secm ' ing employ- ment. In the organization of the National Accredited Commercial Schools Association, Mr. Sparks, as a charter member, was on a committee which compelled one of the largest private chains of business colleges in the country to take from its catalog the job-guarantee statement. No reputable school since this organ- ization was founded has done any good with guaranteeing jobs. The Sparks school was accredited by this association for more than thirty years. Then this organization was merged with the National Council of Business Schools, the outstainding leader of private school organ- izations in the world today. In the meantime, Mr. Sparks helped organize the Illinois State Association of Business Colleges. Both Mr. Henry D. Sparks and his son, Mr. Roger Sparks, have served as president of the state association. Contrary to the practice of some organizations, Mr. Sparks and his co-workers have always worked for and with the public schools. With very few exceptions, all through the years, a list of high-school graduates is sent to the college whenever requested. This year the college has received ninety-nine graduation lists. An Accredited School The most recent and most generally respected approval program is the one which developed out of the National Association and Council of Business Schools. This organization is known as the Accrediting Commission for Business Schools. This agency is accepted by the Federal Bureau of Education. Schools are rigidly examined by disinterested educators before the schools are placed on the accredited list. The following is a copy of the action of the Accrediting Commission for Business Schools in regard to Sparks College: r i ACCREDITS SPARKS COLLEGE an a TWO-YEAR BUSINESS SCHOOL 7 Htj oinkm by the Cotnmuiton 15 haMtd ■pon fidl examination of the educatifmal prmetMcn and ochi« ;cm nt« 0 thti tngti- m H — - —- ' iL. — ■ • f — ' rsXvom. trhirh Mixufartcmly mxei aXah- -y Ckaiaman f UsHrd mtcna. - a xa for the year 1958-59 EXECUTrVE SCtRETAHV

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FARM ORGANIZATIONS ANN ARBOR MACHINE CO. STA-RITE GINNIE LOU. INC.

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A Ne v La v Affecting Private Schools It became evident to the Illinois State Business College Association that sooner or later there would be some regulation passed by the Legislature to control private business schools. The state association, very wisely, sought about and worked out a bill which was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. All private business schools in Illinois come under this law. About three years ago, there came into existence in Illinois this law concerning the operation of private schools. The law set up a board for carrying out the purposes of this act. Six members of this board were appointed by the Governor, William G. Stratton. Under the terms of the act, the Governor appointed Mr. William Bethke and Mr. Paul Moser for two years. Miss Mary Gallagher and Mr. Hubert Scheer for four years, and Miss Darlene Heller and Mr. Roger R. Sparks for six years. The seventh member of the board is ex officio the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who may appoint some member of his organization to represent him on the board. Mr. Robert B. Eadie is the Superintendent ' s representative. Mr. Bethke and Mr. Moser served as president and secretary during the first two years. Mr. Bethke and Mr. Moser were reappointed as members of the board for six years. They were re- elected as president and secretary. Soon thereafte r, Mr. Moser passed away. Mr. Paul Pair was appointed to fill this vacancy. He was elected as secretary. Miss Mary Gallagher, Miss Darlene Heller, and Messr. Bethke, Pair, Eadie, and Sparks were present at the Sparks Fiftieth .Anniversary Program. All business schools operating in Illinois must have the approval of this state board. All solic- itors or representatives of any school selling tuition in Illinois must carry cards certifying that they have been passed upon by this board. This law is a guarantee for the private training sch ' ol. The law sees to it that those who put out a bulletin of information concerning their school must do what they agree to do, must have good quarters and competent teachers, and must teach the courses as outlined in their bulletin. This law has been used as a model in many states in the Union. The founder of Sparks College was the chairman of the legislative committee, and he and a fine group of co-workers put in many arduous hours in selling this program to the Governor and to the Legislature.