COMMERCIAL TEACHERS

Evening Star, Issue 23354, 25 August 1939, Page 10

COMMERCIAL TEACHERS

CONFERENCE IN FINAL STAGES The commercial teachers’ conference which has been in session at the Art School this week entered on its-final stages this morning with discussions about bookkeeping and commerce, the chairmen for the.se respective subjects being Messrs J. M'Laren (Christchurch) and T. L. James (Wellington). ■ The principles of trade, industry, and commerce were acknowledged as being very necessary early in the study of bookkeeping., In the third year the work should be of practical value because bookkeeping was a vocational subject. Students must be taught to be able to interpret accounts and understand their implications. The subject of commerce on business principles was linked up quite definitely with the subject, and should prepare the way to the consideration of the actual records. Arithmetic was corelated because pupils must be accurate," methodical, and peaL. Many sghpols and colleges' ptoyraefl'hookkeepifig periods for trade courses. Full consideration had to he given by teachers to the various methods of approach to the subject, including the- new method by way of the changing balance sheets.. The subject of commerce was introduced by Sir L. D. MTver (Dunedin). The subject was described as one which, while imparting knowledge of practical value; served to enrich ahd deepen knowledge of the fundamental principles upon which the commerce of the world rested. The subject was creating widespread interest in every country. It had a definite cultural influence. It embraced many sections, and in particular economics, economic history, foreign and local markets, business- statistics, commercial correspondence,' and office procedure. The first year course should include those topics, which had literary value. Second and third year courses should be devoted to the furtherance of practical mat.ters. Continental schools favoured the establishment of model offices. The alternative was the establishment of a commercial museum. A full discussion ensued as the subject' matter of the paper was, most provocative.