West High School - EOS Yearbook (Aurora, IL)

Page 21 text:

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.

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.

Page 22 text:

CAFETERIA SERVICE, MECIIANICAI, DRAVVING, AND COMMERCIAL ART CONTRIBUTE TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING SO YOU WANT A JOB In the past we have thought of getting an education and earning a living as two separate activities, hut they should not he very different from each other. lVhile a hoy or girl is acquiring an education, he should he doing things that are closely related to the things he will have to do when he is earning a living. The sooner a student hegins to do something, the sooner he hecomes master of the environment in which he lives. livery hoy and girl should learn to do something well enough to earn a sufficient living. Very often students with good academic records and a keen interest in activities outside of school find themselves nonplussed as to just what line of work to pursue after graduation. As a result of vocational studies, however, confidence in one's ability, self respect, pride in accomplishment, and an opportunity to find the one line of xvorlc we wish to develop is opened to us. Here at VVest High four vocational courses are offered-huilding trades, cafeteria service, commercial art, and vocational printing. Prohahly the most popular of all of these courses is huilding trades. lXIr. Koyl is the instructor of machine, mechan- ical, and architectural drafting. hlr. Tilly instructs welding, electrical work, wood