HF 113! UC-NRLF o CO in o r Surv ommefci ation By the [ochester Chamber of Commerce Survey of Needs in Commercial Education By the Rochester Chamber of Commerce CONTENTS Page Purposes 3 Matters of General Interest 4 Recommendations of the Committee 7 Acknowledgment 13 Appendix 13 Firms Canvassed 16 Committee. . Inside Back Cover Survey of Needs in Commercial Education By the Commercial and Industrial Education Committee of the Chamber of Commerce Rochester, New York Purposes. This survey was undertaken in the belief that mutual advantage would result to the business men, the educational authorities, and to the boys and girls of Rochester. It is hoped that the following benefits and many others may accrue to all parties concerned: 1. That the requirements of business with reference to com- mercial employees may be better understood by the local educational authorities. 2. That the commercial courses now being offered by the schools of Rochester may be more thoroughly understood by the business men who are in a position to pass intelligent judgment on their merit. 3. That such changes in the present courses of study as may seem necessary after careful consideration, may be made upon the recommendation of this committee. 4. That in business training as in industrial training, the educational authorities and business men may continue to cooperate with each other to the end that more efficiently trained young people may be available when clerical help is required. 415518 / ::;--:**.*" Rinds of Positions Included The survey includes 1303 commercial workers divided among twenty-one positions as indicated below: Kind of Work Female Male Advertising clerks 1 1 Auditors 14 Bookkeepers 30 58 Clerical-factory 10 3 Clerical-General Office 259 195 Cost clerks 3 Cashiers 67 2 Collectors 1 Credit Clerks 2 Mail Order Clerks 1 Messengers 7 20 Order and Billing Clerks 39 28 Pay roll clerks 21 1 Sales and record clerks 58 2 Salespeople 210 40 Stenographers 83 8 Shipping and Receiving clerks 92 Stock clerks 5 4 Timekeepers 1 3 Typists 29 2 Tag writers 3 TOTALS 843 460 GRAND TOTAL 1303 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Matters of General Interest DEFICIENCIES NOTED The employers were asked to state briefly the deficiencies which they have noted in the training of their employees. The most important criticisms made in answer to this question were the following: Inability to perform arithmetical computations quickly and accurately; inability to write easily, rapidly, and legibly; lack of preparation in the use of the English language; insufficient knowledge of place geography; lack of interest in their work; absence of any power of initiative; inability to concen- trate for even a brief period of time; lack of general information; absence of any general efficiency in the handling of their work. 4 REMEDIAL MEASURES Employers were asked to name some remedial measures for use in correcting the deficiencies noted and the following sugges- tions were made: The school authorities should give more attention to the fundamentals of English and Arithmetic and should place more emphasis on Business Writing; more boys should be interested in the study of shorthand; a closer relation should be established between the school and business; there should be more specific vocational education along commercial lines; there should be continuation courses in commercial subjects either in the day or evening school; greater attention should be given to the development of business habits in the boys and girls during their school course; the largest possible number of men teachers should be employed to give instruction in business subjects. DIFFICULTY IN SECURING GOOD STENOGRAPHERS Employers were asked if they experienced any difficulty in securing competent stenographers. Two- thirds replied that they experienced great difficulty; one-sixth answered no; and one- sixth were somewhat indefinite in their replies. The following deficiencies were noted in connection with the preparation of stenographers; lack of knowledge of the English language; lack of general education; lack of familiarity with special and general business vocabulary; inability to edit letters when required; inability to spell correctly and use proper punctuation; uncer- tainty in the reading of their notes; and failure to understand the importance of remaining long enough in one position to learn the business and become familiar with its special vocabulary. Thirty-five per cent of those who were canvassed state that they secure their stenographers from schools, while 65% secure them from other sources including typewriter agencies, newspaper advertisements, recommendations of friends, etc. SPECIAL VALUE OF TYPEWRITING Quite a large proportion of the employers stated that any office worker would be much more valuable with a knowledge of type- writing even though he was not able to write shorthand. IMPORTANCE OF BOOKKEEPING About 60% of the^employers canvassed stated that an assistant bookkeeper would not need to be familiar with the principles of double-entry bookkeeping as the modern set of books is highly 5 sectionalized and much of the bookkeeping work is mere routine; 40% of those canvassed seem to feel, however, that any office worker is much more valuable and also much more certain of promotion if he is well grounded in the fundamental principles of double-entry bookkeeping. ADVERTISING AND SALESMANSHIP All the employers agreed that fundamental principles of advertising and salesmanship should be taught in connection with commercial courses. ADDING MACHINES Ninety per cent of the employers canvassed use adding ma- chines and 60% stated that it would be very desirable to have instruction given on the adding machine in connection with commercial courses. DICTATING MACHINES Dictating machines are used by 33 1-3% of the employers included in our canvass and it was suggested that graduates of commercial courses should have some facility in the art of trans- cribing from the dictating machine. MALE STENOGRAPHERS Ninety per cent, of the employers do not use male stenographers and yet the 10% who do use such stenographers have some excep- tionally good positions open to young men. SOURCES OF OFFICE HELP The employers were asked from what sources they obtained commercial workers for the positions included in the list given above and the following answers were received : Promotion from the present force; friends of present employees; through voluntary applications; from other employers; from typewriter companies; from commercial schools; from colleges and technical schools; from parochial schools; and through advertisements. LACK OF PROMOTION PLAN It is significant that while nearly all employers complained that office workers do not remain in one position long enough to become thoroughly familiar with their duties, nearly 80% stated they had no definite plan for the regular advancement of such employees. The only class of employees who seem to be advanced according to any system is the sales force who are promoted on the basis of average sales. 6 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES 1. Arithmetic Greater emphasis should be placed on busi- ness arithmetic with special reference to local needs. The practice of Rochester business men in the matter of handling arithmetical problems should be definitely ascertained by a committee of commercial arithmetic teachers, acting under the direction of the Committee on Commercial and Industrial Education. This will bring the teachers and business men into closer relation with each other to their mutual advantage. 2. English In addition to the present work in English it seems necessary to suggest that students be given more drill on the fundamentals, such as spelling, punctuation, word study and vocabulary building, business terms, letter forms, etc. Simple business letter writing should receive more attention. 3. Geography A more intimate knowledge of place geog- raphy is very much to be desired and it is suggested that this subject be given more attention in the upper grades than it has been receiving. File clerks, shipping and receiving clerks, etc. need a better knowledge of the location of cities and states, and also a more thorough knowledge of trade routes. It is further recommended that the school authorities be assisted in teaching this subject by the Chamber of Commerce through the various business interests therein represented. 4. Writing The Committee finds that at least 100% more emphasis is being placed on writing in the public schools at the present time, and that the long used vertical system has been abandoned in favor of the more desirable slant business style. The only recommendation on this subject that seems* ad visable is that this new movement in the direction of better penmanship be continued. 5. Bookkeeping From the survey it would appear that general business training should receive more attention in addition to the technical instruction in bookkeeping. Every commercial course graduate should be familiar with the principles of double-entry bookkeeping, but he 7 does not need to be an expert bookkeeper. Only of the 1303 commercial workers are bookkeepers and the majority of these are routine clerks on a highly specialized and sectionalized set of books. 6. Advertising and Salesmanship 100% of the firms replied that advertising should be taught in the schools. It is therefore recommended that this matter be presented to the schools with the request that such courses be given to all day commercial students as well as to evening classes. 7. Adding Machines In view of the fact that adding machines are used by 90% of the firms canvassed, it is recommended that operators be trained in the commercial courses. 8. Business Habits It is strongly recommended that such business habits as obedience, courtesy, industry, thought- fulness, promptness, loyalty, etc., be made the subjects of definite and conscious instruction in all commercial courses. Frequent talks by those who know their value should be given to commercial students. No teacher can handle these subjects as effectively as the man in business can. A definite series of talks should be arranged for by this committee. 9. Vocational Interest Steps should be taken to stimulate a greater interest on the part of the pupil in the business career for which he has decided to make adequate prep- aration. Talks by business men and teachers on local industries should be given frequently. These talks should be given for the purpose of arousing a lasting interest in business, and not merely to give familiarity with one par- ticular industry. 10. Sticking to one Job It is also recommended that pupils be taught the very great advantage of sticking to one job long enough to thoroughly test its advantages before seeking another position and that future prospects are better than immediate gain. 11. Continuation Courses Continuation courses in the evening schools are offered for those who desire to improve their commercial training. Only about 10% of the 1303 employees canvassed are taking advantage of this oppor- 8 timity. It is recommended that this matter be clearly and definitely presented to all commercial employees in Rochester that they may be acquainted with the oppor- tunities in these courses. A committee to handle this matter should be appointed. It is recommended that short unit courses be provided along any special line that may be suggested and that the committee referred to above ascertain just what courses are desired and report to the school authorities in order that they may be established at the earliest practicable date. 12. Better Stenographers In view of the criticism made regarding stenographers, it is recommended that schools exercise greater care in accepting students for the short- hand course. General education, maturity, thorough knowledge of English, good vocabulary, clean personal habits, etc., are necessary to success in stenographic work. Only those who have reasonable assurance of success should be encouraged to enter this field. 13. Men Teachers It is recommended that so far as possible only men teachers be employed for such business subjects as bookkeeping, office practice, and commercial arithmetic. Those who are being trained for office work should come in contact with men as much as possible and it will also be easier for men teachers to keep in closer touch with business methods in all the best business houses of Rochester. TO EMPLOYERS 1. Evening School Attendance It is recommended that each employer be asked to canvass his office workers and to urge any who would profit by evening school instruc- tion, to enroll in some good school. Employers should be informed periodically by the Board of Education of the progress which their employees are making in the evening courses. 2. Developing Initiative It is recommended that a joint committee of business men and representatives of the Board of Education be appointed to devise ways and means of developing the power of initiative in con- 9 nection with school work. It is believed that business men who see the great lack in this direction can materially aid school authorities in their efforts to develop in the student this important business qualification. 3. General Efficiency Work General efficiency in the handling of all kinds of school duties as well as in the performance of assigned tasks should be emphasized in all commercial courses. To this end it is recommended that a business man who has given special thought to this phase of bus- iness be asked to meet the commercial teachers and make suggestions along this line. Such an advisor might name a list of valuable books on the subject of efficiency; help in the solution of definite problems along this line in school and class organization; and bring about a greater similarity between school and business methods. 4. Securing Office Help The survey shows conclusively that in the employment of public school trained boys and girls, the school authorities are not consulted and yet the public schools are often held to account for the short- comings in such help. It is recommended that when in need of boys and girls who have had public school training, the principals of schools or Board of Education office be called so that the best prepared and most needy and de- serving product of the schools may be brought to the attention of the employer. While there are many more public school trained people in the list canvassed than there are private school trained, no firm stated that the public school authorities were ever consulted in employing the product of the public school, while private schools are given a chance to select their own graduates to fill positions called to their attention. The Board of Education office will gladly cooperate in getting any kind of help that is being trained in the public schools. It is strongly urged that employers report to the Board of Education regarding the success or failure of any of their employees who were recommended by the school authorities. 5. Stenographic Help Two-thirds of the firms canvassed have difficulty in securing good stenographers. In this con- nection it is interesting to note that only 35% are secured from the schools that trained them. The other 65% are 10 obtained from miscellaneous sources. It is suggested that well recommended beginners are frequently better than experienced stenographers who are unrecommended. The schools usually have both experienced and inex- perienced people on their lists, and their own interests demand that only the ones who can make good be re- commended. 6. Promotion Since 78% of the firms canvassed have no definite plan of promotion, and the remaining 22% have a plan only with reference to their selling force, it is recommended that all firms be urged to devise some plan whereby every worthy employee will be made to under- stand that promotion will automatically and surely follow success on his part. It is believed that this is the best way to make the floater a permanent link in any business organization. The number of employees under 26 years of age in this survey who have been promoted to their present positions is only 33 1-3 % of the total. The statistics bear out the complaint that employees of this type do not remain in one place long enough. A pro- motion plan might remedy this situation to some extent. 7. Co-Operation It is recommended that all employers be asked by the Chamber of Commerce to co-operate with the educational authorities in their efforts to make their courses practical, by furnishing type problems in arith- metic, detailed information regarding the scope and character of their office practice, and general information regarding their bookkeeping systems and general office requirements; and further, by taking students whenever practicable, into their office in order that practical knowl- edge of business methods may be acquired. 8. Part Time Work It is recommended that a committee representing the schools and the Chamber of Com- merce be appointed to consider the matter of part time employment for students in commercial courses and report to the Committee on Commercial and Industrial Education regarding the practicability of such a plan. TO THE BOYS AND. GIRLS 1. Future opportunity is far more important than immediate gain. Every young person should determine to secure a 11 position with a future and then stick to the job until he has won for himself a high place in the regard of his employer. Stability will contribute much to your future growth and you should not permit yourself to be argued into changing positions for a slight advance in salary unless you have other good reasons for making the change. 2. Special commercial education will aid you in making your way in the business world, but strength of character will do much more for you in this direction. 3. You must be industrious, courteous, honest, thoughtful, and loyal to your employers all the time if you would achieve the largest measure of success in your life work. 4. Remember that the young person who begins at the bottom has the advantage of learning the business from the bottom up. He who begins part way up the ladder of success may miss an opportunity to learn some of the very important principles underlying the business in which he is engaged. TO THE PARENTS 1. This survey has developed the fact that a broad general education and also some special education is neces- sary for the young man and the young woman who would succeed in the business world. You are strongly urged to give your son and daughter the longest possible period of time in which to complete their education for business. The full high school course is none too long. And nothing short of economic pressure in the home should cause you to take your boy or girl out of school before he or she has secured a good substantial general education and an approved special course of training for business. It is not to be expected that boys and girls handicapped by insufficient training will make the progress of those who have had greater educational advantages. 2. There are many opportunities for part time work and the school authorities will co-operate in securing afternoon and Saturday work for those who need it and who are physically able to carry such work in addition to their school duties. This may make it possible for your boy or girl to remain in school longer than he or she otherwise could. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The information upon which this report is based could not have been obtained without the co-operation of the employers of the city, who were included in the survey. The Committee wishes to express its appreciation of the cordial reception given to its repre- sentatives who gathered the data and also for the many suggestions which were of value in preparing this report. APPENDIX HOW THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED Two sets of forms were prepared for use in getting the required data. One form was used in securing information about the in- dividual workers. A copy of this form is given below: Name Firm employing Date Age Department Position 1. What elementary (or grammar) school did you attend and in what city, village or town was it located? (An answer to this question might read, for example: "Public School No. 19, Rochester" or "St. Mary's School, Rochester," or "District School No. 3, Gates" or "Public School, Victor.") &. Did you graduate? If not, how far did you go? 3. Did you attend any high school or academy? Give name and location. 4. How long did you attend high school or academy? Did you graduate? 5. Did you take any commercial subjects in high school or academy? If so, what were they, and how long did you study each? (An answer might be, for example: "Stenography, 1 year, 3 periods a week, " "Typewriting, 1 year, 2 periods, " "Business correspondence Y^ year, 5 periods.") 6. Have you had a special business course elsewhere than in high school or academy? Where? How long was this course? What subjects did it include, and how long did you study each? (Please answer in the way suggested for question 5) . 13 7. In what year, and approximate month did you leave the school you last attended? Each commercial employee was requested to fill out one of these forms. On the back of this form the employer placed a rating as follows: A-Excellent, B-Good, C-Fair. The second form was used in getting general informa- tion from the employers canvassed. A copy of this form is given below : Business Firm Name Number employed June 1, in commercial occupations including office force, shipping clerks, etc. : Male Female Total Kinds of work done by these people to be given in the natural order of the workers' advancement so far as practicable No. Employed at each kind of work No. less than 26 years old No. under 6 advanced from lower positions in your establishment Male Female Male Female Of persons under 26 years of age at time of leaving, who voluntarily withdrew from your employment within the last year June 1, 1913, to May 31, 1914, inclusive: No. who have been with you less than a year Male Female A year or more, and less than two years Two years or more, and less than three years Three years or more Total number 14 The investigators used the following list of questions in interviews with the representatives of the firms can- vassed and the answers have been tabulated in a later part of this report : QUESTIONS FOR SURVEY OF NEEDS IN COMMERCIAL EDUCATION (F) 1. How many people are employed in the commercial side of your business office force, sales force, shipping clerks,, etc.? Male Female (F) 2. What kinds of work do they perform, given in the natural order of advancement, and how many are employed in each kind? (F) 3. How many of those employed in each kind of work are twenty-five years of age and under? 4. In what respects, if any, do these people seem to be deficient in their educational preparation? (F) 5. How far had they gone in school before securing employ- ment? (F) 6. How many left you during the past year who were with you less than a year; how many who were with you one year but less than two; how many two years but less than three; how many three years or more? 7. What remedial measures would you suggest to us for the correction of the deficiencies noted? 8. What method do you follow in securing help of the classes included in your answer to Question 1 ? 9. Have you any definite plans for the regular advance- ment of such employees? (F)10. How many different grades of work were recruited from the lower positions? 11. Would instruction in typewriting be of advantage to your office workers who are not regular stenographers or typists? 15 12. Do you have difficulty in securing competent steno- graphers? In what respects, if any, are stenographers quite generally deficient? 13. Do you secure your stenographers from schools, or from other sources? 14. Do you use male stenographers? 15. Do you use dictating machines? If so, do you have difficulty in getting trained operators? 16. Do you use adding or calculating machines? Would instruction on these machines in school be advantageous to pupils? 17. Is it necessary that your assistant bookkeepers be thor- oughly familiar with the principles of double-entry book- keeping? Is it advantageous? 18. In your judgment, should the fundamental principles of advertising and salesmanship be taught in connection with^commercial courses? Note: "F" before a question indicates that a blank form has been prepared for securing information indicated. FIRMS CANVASSED IN THE SURVEY Bausch & Lomb Optical Company Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Ry. Co. Burke, FitzSimons, Hone Co., Inc. Duffy-Powers Co. Eastman Kodak Company German-American Button Co. Hickey-Freeman Co. Knowlton, M. D. Co. McCurdy, Robinson Co. Rochester Railway & Light Co. Sherwood Shoe Co. Sibley, Linsday & Curr Co. G. W. Todd & Co. Utz & Dunn 16 Several other firms were asked to co-operate, but for what seemed to them good reasons, they were unable to get the forms filled out for the committee in time to be included in this report. The survey committee feels, however, that a more extended survey would not materially alter the results. The individual records of 1303 employees were received and they may be considered typical of what would be found in a survey of every Rochester firm, and entirely adequate for the purposes of this inquiry. EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES OF EMPLOYEES While the individual record blanks of 1303 employees were received, 339 of them were not rated by the employer and we have therefore, not included them in the following analysis: Number who finished the 6th grade only 18 the 7th " 142 " " " the 8th " 370 1 yr. in High School 103 " 2 yrs. in " 148 3 yrs. in " 100 4 yrs. in " 83 Per cent, of all who had less than grammar school education 17% Per cent, of all who had a grammar school education only 39% Per cent, of all who had 1 yr. in High School only 10% " " " " " " 2 yrs. " 15% " " " " " " 3 yrs. " " " 10% " 4 yrs. u " " " 9% Total number who had taken a business school course 211 or 21% Total number who had taken a business course in public or parochial school 145 or 15% Total number who had received any special training for business 356 or 37% Total number who had received no special training 608 or 63% RATING BY EMPLOYERS Number who received their general education in public schools of Rochester. . 432 Number who received their education in parochial schools of Rochester 259 17 Number who received their general education outside of Rochester 273 Per cent, of public school trained rated " Excellent " . . 43% " " " parochial school trained rated "Excellent" 34% " " outside school trained rated "Excellent" 45% u " " all rated excellent 47% " " " public school trained rated "Good" 46% " " " parochial school trained rated "Good". . 53% " " u outside school trained rated "Good"... . 42% " all rated "Good"..., 46% " " " public school trained rated "Fair" 11% " " u parochial school trained rated "Fair". .. 13% " u " outside school trained rated "Fair" 13% " " " all rated "Fair" 7% It will be noted from the above statistics that over half, or 56%, of the employees considered had only a grammar school education or less. Also, that only 9% had received the benefits of a complete high school education. Further, that 63% had re- ceived no special commercial training before taking their places as commercial workers. It is also interesting to note that 53% of those with special training who were marked "fair" are not engaged in work for which their special training would be supposed to fit them, therefore, it is not fair to assume that such special training was defective in any way. This fact may indicate, how- ever, that courses in commercial training could be modified so as to provide specific training for a larger variety of work, as is indi- cated in the table of occupations given in the first part of this report. PRINTING Every firm canvassed in securing material for this report ex- pressed a desire to know the outcome of this survey, and it is recommended that the foregoing report, as approved by the Committee on Commercial and Industrial Education, be printed for general distribution and that copies be mailed to the firms who co-operated with the Survey Committee in its work. 18 AND INDUSTRIAL I: , h :' ' ; - - ; - [saa< Mayei , J. \ . M< V r ea Prof, How,: ,- J.G. Miner, F. G. Nichol -Rush Kb v , Leon Sier Steplien J.