West High School - EOS Yearbook (Aurora, IL)

Page 20 text:

INIINIICRVIAI. S'I'I'lJICN'I'S LEARN 'IU MIMEUURAPII, 'I'U MAKE Ul I' jUB-APPLICATIUNS, ANI? TU TAKE lJlC'I'A'I FOR COMME RCIAL TRAINING Annually, june after june, lVest High graduates parade across the platform- all looking more or less alike. Hut there the similarity ends. lfither through necessity or through an impatient desire to prove their own worth, twenty-three per cent of these students chose the commercial course. Now, at graduation, they stand fully equipped to make their place in the husiness world. ln no other branch of learning does the opportunity for immediate advancement so present itself. l reshmen, launching into this new realm of training, find the initial courses reduced to mere stepping stones under the illuminating teaching of hliss 'l'hompson. ln her husiness fundamentals classes she acquaints the students with a general preview of the requirements for the forthcoming years. lVith the advent of their sophomore year, students in this course hranch out into commercial arithmetic, with instructor hlr. Apsitg commercial geography, with hlr. Smith as teacher: hooltlceeping, with instructor hlr. Peterson: and typing, taught hy hliss Fruin and Bliss Thompson. A general understanding of the field and its scope is hrought hefore the student hody. Its potentialities, as well as its difliculties, are discussed to make for a hetter understanding of the curriculum outlined for them.

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X COOKING, DRAWING, AND ART ADD VARIETY TO REGULAR CLASSES FOR GENERAL STUDEINTS Household arts is without a doubt a practical course for high school girls. It offers instructions in the line art of homemaking, including the study of clothing and foods. Miss Ballard, clothing and home management instructor, prepares the girls for economic and intelligent purchasing of clothes, as well as for actual dressmaking. The study of foods in connection with home management is also included in her course. The general course is based upon the principle of requiring only a few specific units for graduation from the course, thereby giving the student leeway to make his own decisions as to whether he shall confine his training to preparation for college, a vocation, or both. The requirements are composed of four years of English, taught by llfliss Lane, lldiss Wood, lldr. Newman, and lldrs. Shepard: one year of general mathematics, taught by Miss Brown and hir. Apsit: two years of social science with instructors Mr. Ridinger, Miss Raymond, and lVIr. Nebergalg and one-half year each of physiology and general science, instructed by hfliss YVilson, lVIr. Hafenrichter, Mr. Grant, Miss Pease, and Mr. Jebens. In this course the student is able to choose for himself the subjects which he wants to take and which he thinks will give him the best preparation for his later life. The general division accomplishes a dual purpose by preparing students simul- taneously for both college and a vocation. By this training, acquired at an early stage of their education, they are ready to meet whatever the future holds for them.

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VVORRING IN THE SUPPLY STORE, TYPING, AND ACCOUNTING ARE A PART UF THIS CURRICULUM Upon entering the third year of the commercial course, work begins in earnest. Now that the rudiments of the course have been mastered, the refining and polishing of each accomplishment is begun. It is with a feeling of real confidence that the student begins this stage of his development. At the junior level, one-half year of business English, taught by Nliss Lane: shorthand, taught by lylr. Peterson: and typing, taught by lVIiss Fruin, constitute the necessary requirements. The electives- accounting, salesmanship, and law, instructed by hdr. Peterson and lVIr. Laflin- are ofTered as optional credits. A peek into the typing or shorthand room reveals classes of intensely interested students, each conscientiously filling every moment to the fullest. During their senior year, the advanced students receive firsthand experience in putting into practice their acquired business knowledge and skill. The office practice class, under the expert supervision of lVIr. Laflin, is the final step in the progress of the commercial students, familiarizing them with office routine and etiquette. Also included in this year's work is advanced shorthand instructed by lVliss Thompson. High school is one of the most reliable sources of commercial training. Perhaps most necessary of all attributes is a wide variety of business experience. Accordingly, many commercial students, aside from their required work, assume various miscellaneous duties around school. Most important of these is management of the book store under the supervision of lVIr. Peterson. This is the short cut to success-the rocky road perhaps-but always leading up to a definite goal.