Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-01-03

The greatest possible object that can be
had IN any study is, that the mind may be
50 disciplined BY is m~ethojieal and well ar
ranged labor, ,ha, it viii not be satisfied with
VIA. il has learned in the schools, bat nsh>
er os.sii< Of the schools, 20 that the study
which viii give "a the most vigorous disci>
pine ard 1T the same time indicate the man.
ner in which other studies may and should
Be taught must necessarily be Of the first
importance. Arithmetic has largely 70 DO
With the reasoning faculties, 80 that it win
always hold the chief place in school in
stxucion and discipline. l shall mention
three reasons Why, - it seems to me, this
study should stand foremost in the mind Of
both teacher and pupil. The FIRST lesson to
b taught and learned from this branch Of
mathematics is accuracy. I'd. The power
70 work with npidny, and Sd, the benefits
Of the logical teaching Of arithmetic when
applied 10 other studies. By the first divis>
ion I mean . correct statement of the exam
pie 70 be wrought and the analytical meth>
cd BY which it is wrought This part Of my
subject becomes more important when we
remember that the habits Of the school room
are to cling most tenaciously to the child
and modifE 10 a great degree his whole sub
seqaent life. /, is a fact that the inaccurate
pupil will make the inaccurate man, and 1t
is more than probable that the learner who
Is continually faulty in his language vii! be
sach through life. The 6rst thing 70 be
sought then IS : precise statement. 1t il not
unfrequenily the case that the child viii mis-.
place terms, and more particularly is he liza
bic to commit this mistake in the examina>
ton Of the method BY which the work has
been performed. II, for instance, an exam
pie like the following is given the pupil !:
!. What is the interest Of $50 for one year u
s per cent" the explanation in many, if
not in mos. cases, will be this: If the in>
terest on one dollar for one year is SIX ceats,
the interest On so for the same time viii
be six times fifty, thus making . wrong use
Of multiplicand and mul,iplier. I mention
this one instance - illustrating many SINH
lar errors familiar 70 every teacher. II needs
no little care and patience in well doing TO
see that the verbal statement and written
process are truthful and even. When they
are mashemasically correct, great injustice
will be found more frequently than oshersise
in the hesitans, sluggish, laundering gram
mar used in stating the method 10 the child's
own language. do not object to she pu,
pills language In bis explanation, provided
it is good English. would encourage rash
er than discourage such habit in the school
room The teaches, however, should have
constantly 10 mind the importance ofthe right
use Of language - well - the accuracy Of
the study under consideration. II is 70 be
taken for granted that IN accurate result u
to be obtained in every instance, for withou,
this preciseness, mathematics would lose
their worth ~ an exact science.
ID. The child should be taught 70 work
rapidly after be i able 70 work accurately
Pupils are often taught TO perform opera
tons 10 mental arithmetic with such rapid,
y, and u the ZANE time correctly, - hardly
lobe able 70 name the successive steps taker
in the work. Why should there not be Z
corresponding readiness and rspidity eyin
ced in written arithmetic? The gymnas
receives increased muscular strength a. b
combines celebrity Of action with we'll direct
ed and exact movements; 20 i il equal,
true that the mind Astains 70 : more vigor
Gus growth and develops greater menss
strength as Il pnites these two essential re
quisitss 6sst named. Almost every depart
ment OF business life demands this rapid, &C
curate power of mental labor, and the school
do not fully answer the legitimate end ant
object for which they ere supported unit
they inset this requirement. Ne teacher
ought not 70 forget thst droass can be mad,
in school - we'll - elsewhere. The min
will inevitably become sluggish and ipactiv
unless compelled 10 perform it, proper worl
With . just appreciation Of the value Of time
50 ! repeat that this % division Of our sub