The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-23
Smiths Practical and Mental
arithmetic.

EUST published, PRACTICAL and MEN
90 tai ARITHMETIC on new plan, in
which Mental Arithmetic is combined with the
use of the slate containing a complete system
for all practical purposes being in dollars and
cents Second Edition, revised and ENLARGED,
with exercises for the slate; to which is addee ,
Practical System Of Book keeping. By Ros-
WE'LL c. SMITH.
The publishers particularly invite the atten-
ton of teachers to this work, in the belief that
it is great and important improvement in the
art of teaching Arithmetic 1t is the produc-
ton of an experienced and accomplished nstruc-
tor of youth, who has ayailed himself of obser-
vaticns made in long course of experience
Every part of this work has been carefully
adapted to the business of teaching, and every
page has been tested, by the use of the work
in the authors school.
The design of the author has been to instruct
the learner in the principles and practice of
Arithmetic. This he has endeavored 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 unable
of himself to surmount. In accordance with
this maxim, the first 90 pages contain no rules
nor exercises for the slate. 1t commences with
examples so simple, that children years old
will readily comprehend them. These illus
trate the principle of Addition, after which the
Table is inserted, followed by intellectual ex-
ercises, explanatory gifts practical utility. The
remaining Tables of Simple Subtraction, Null
DUPLICATION and Division, are exemplifed in a
similar manner.
Thus, by mere mental process, the pupil is
eifectually taught the ground rules of Arithme-
tic and this may be accomplished without any
other assistance than the book, ana the opera
lions of his own mind
The pupil, on this plan, is required to think ;
and. having become familiar with the indiVid-
ual operations required to solve series OF arlth-
metical questions, these operations are then
summed up, and stated in the form of rule.
This rule he is then required to commit to
memory not. however, without having been
previously interrogatsd, to be assured OF his
complete comprehension of the same.
These hints will serve to exhibit some of the
general characteristic features of the work. 1t
contains many things that are Re1o, and cannot
fail to be deemed great improvements The
following are a few viz The mode of quest
ioning Indirect .8nSverS, calculated to secure
the advantage of systems containing an
swers, and essentially lessen the burthen of the
teacher; the rule for calculating interest for
days
1t Is thought ny competent JUDGES 10 eIhpIdct
all that is valuable in the two popular systems
by mental process and the use of the slate. Its
simplicity, end the facility with which the pupi
makes himself master of it, might be deemed
by some a fault, did not the frequent complaint:
made by children, that 60 it makes their heads
ache with thinking" refute this objection.
On the whole, the work is believed to bt
better calculated than any other system, to ex
cite mental, exertion, aud gain thorough
knowledge of the theory and practice of Arth
metic and, as such, the public are respectfully
invited to examine it. Copies viii be gratuit
ously furnished for That purpose
NJ Published and for sale by RICHARD
SON & LORD, and S. G.. GOODRICH, Bos
TON; and by DORR Il ROWLAND an,
CLARENDON HARRIS, WORCESTER.
January 23