Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-02
SMITHS NEW PRACTICAL AND
MENTAL ARITHMETIC.

lust PUBLISHED, Practical and Mental
Arithmetic on a new plan, in which Men,
tai Arithmetic is combined with the use ofthe
slate: containing a complete system for all
practical purposes; being in Dollars and Cents.
Second Edition, revised and enlarged with ex-
ercises for the slate. To which is added a
Practical System of Book Keeping. by RIOS
WELL C. SMITH.
The publishers particularly invite the atten-
ton of teachers to this work, in the belief that
it is a great and important improvement in the
art Of teaching Arithmetic. II is the produc-
ton of an experienced and accomplished in
structor of youth, who has availed himself OF
observations made in a long course of expert
ence. Every part of this work has been care
fully adapted to the business of teaching, and
every page has been tested, by the use of the
work in the authors school.
The design ofthc author has been to instruct
tho learner in the principles and practice of
Arithmetic. This he has endeavoured to do by
slow gradations, beginning with the simplest
ideas, and gradually ascending in the scale of
knowledge, till the pupil is master of the whole
field of Arithmetical combinations.
A fundamental principle Of the work, is to
present no difficulty which the learner is una
BILE Of himself to surmount. In accorf,nce
with this maxim, the first 20 pages contain no
rules nor exercises for the slate. II commences
with examples so simple, that children 5 years
old, will readily comprehend them. These IL
lustrate the principles Of Addition, after which
the Table is inserted, followed by intellectual
exercises, explanatory of its practical utility
The remaining Tables Of Simple Subtraction,
Multiplication and Division, are exempliied in
a similar manner.
Thus, by a mere mental process, the pupil
is fectually taught the ground rules of Arith-
metic, and this may be accomplished without
any other assistance than the book, and the
operations Of his own mind.
The pupil, on this plan, is required to think,
and having become familiar with the individual
operations required TO solve a series of arith-
metical questions, these operations are then
summed up, and stated in the form Of a rule.
This rule he is then required to commit. to
memory, not, however,, without having been
previously lnterrogated, to be assured Of his
complete comprehension Of the same.
These hints will serve TO exhibit some Of the
general chara cteristic features of the work.
II contains many things that are neD, and
cannot fail to be deemed great improvements.
The following are a few, viz. the mode OF
questioning, Indirect ANSWERS, calculated TO
secure the advantages Of systems containing
no answers, and essentially lessen the burthen
Of the teacher; the Rule for calculating In
terest for days.
1t is thought by competent Judges to en-
brace all that is valuable in the two popu-
lar systems, by mental process, and the use of
the slate. Its simplicity, and The facility with
which the pupil makes himself master of it,
might be deemed by some a fault, did not the
frequent complaints made by children, that
" it makes their heads ache with t~hinking''
refute this objection.
On the whole, the work is believed to be
better calculated than any other system, to
excite mental e~xertion, and gain a thorough
knowledge of the theory and practice of Arith-
metic; and as such, the public are respectfully
invited to examine it. Copies will be gratui-
tously furnished for that purpose.--For sale by
Dec. 20. A. S. BECKWITH.