COMMERCIAL TEACHERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 19

COMMERCIAL TEACHERS

CONFERENCE IN DUNEDIN YESTERDAY'S SESSIONS The business sessions of the Commercial Teachers' Conference were commenced yesterday morning in the Dunedin School of Art buildings by Mr G. A. Thompson, president of the New Zealand Technical School Teachers' Association. Book-keeping The first session dealt with bookkeeping, the subject being introduced by a paper prepared and delivered by Mr G. W. C. Drake, M.A.. B.Com. (Auckland). The speaker stressed the value of book-keeping in the world of commerce owing to the tremendous increase in the size and complexity of business. The universality of bookkeeping was gaining recognition. Everybody kept records, from the manufacturer with his complete details of costs to the average citizen with his record of income and expenditure. Book-keeping took its place to-day as an essential subject of a broad education as well as of a specialised vocational education. The teaching process must bear in mind many points, of which the chief were: (1) Complete knowledge of business methods and organisation; (2) Arithmetical accuracy and skill; (3) The training of the mind to work in orderly and well-directed ways; and (4) The aesthetic appreciation of artistic handiwork. Shorthand

The second session was devoted to the subject of shorthand, which was introduced by Miss J. McMillan, P.C.T. (Dunedin). After outlining the early history of shorthand the speaker referred to the new slogan which had arisen, namely, "Dictation from the beginning and theory all the time." Dictation at the beginning developed the skill of the ear. Higher 'speeds were obtained more rapidly. The speaker then proceeded to outline experimental work which was being done in the Dunedin Technical High School. The course aimed to accustom the student to the spoken word from the commencement of the study of the subject. Typewriting

In the third session the subject of typewriting was introduced by Miss A. W. Hall, B.A.I.PJS. The speaker outlined the equipment necessary before good results could be expected. The majority of teachers advocated the "touch" system. It built up the habit of moving the fingers automatically to secure certain results in response to the stimulus of written words, phrases and sentences. The importance of co-operation with teachers of other subjects, particularly of English was strongly emphasised. A class of first-year typewriting pupils, under the direction of Miss E. Anderson, of the Dunedin Technical High School, demonstrated the touchtyping principle, to the accompaniment of gramophone music. Those present were much impressed with the progress made over a few months, as exemplified by the efficiency shown as the pupils moved through a series of elementary exercises. Visual Aids

An interesting demonstration of the value of the diascope proper and the diascope with film strip attachment was given last evening by Mr W. P. Macdougall, of the local college. Comparisons were shown utilising standard slides, sub-standard slides and film strips, both plain and coloured. The relative values of different surfaces for projection were brought put clearly, notably the Ducoed and the flat white surfaces.