The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-28
MATHEMATICAL SECTION
Held Its Meeting Yesterday and
Elected Officers.

The mathematical section meeting of the
teachers association was held in Room 112
at the Statehouse. The session was con-
cuded last night. The subject of "Arith-
metic for the Common Schools of Indiana"
was the principal topic for discussion and
was discussed from three standpoints. Supt.
J. F. Haines, of Noblesville spoke from the
standpoint of the graded schools and held
that a thorough knowledge Of the funda-
mental principles of mathematicS-addition
subtraction, division and multiplication-is
necessary in training pupils in the lower
grades in accuracy and rapidity. He favored
making drill work the primary work for the
lower grades and thought work and reason
ing the principal effort in the higher grades,
although making all methods of doing
things, the application of the four funda-
mental principles of mathematics.
+. F'iske Allen, of the Indianapolis Train
ing School, discussed the topic from the
standpoint of the high school and empha-
sized the fact that for high school mathe-
mates it is necessary for the pupils to be
accurate in the knowledge of how to apply
the fundamental principles. He made a
strong plea for the correct use of terms in
the lower grades and the proper use of
signs He said there was a disposition
among the teachers of the lower grades to
make the study of mathematics easy for
have to be ''unlearned when the pupils
reach the higher grades. In summing up he
said that pupils should be drilled in accur-
acy and memory work when young.
The subject, as applied to colleges, was
discussed by Prof. Alfred M. Kenyon, of
Purdue who dwelt on the thought that &C
curacy and rapidity in the use of the four
fundamental principles are essential and
that short and simple methods should be
used instead of elaborate ones. He also
thought that textbooks should contain not
only what a pupil is expected to learn but
also notes and appendices which Will con-
tain historical facts and also methods and
PRINCIPLES which viii be valuable in certain
lines in after life. In the discussion which
followed, all the speakers agreed with the
sentiments expressed by the representatives
of the different departments and the unan-
unity of feeling led to the appointment of a
committee TO confer with the mathematical
departments of all the high schools Of the
State and the professors of mathematics in
the colleges of the State, as to the best
course in mathematics for use in the schools
of the State. together with the best method
for presenting the subject to the pupils.
The committee is composed of Principal
Hamlet Allen, Washington; Principal ]. f.
Haines, Noblesville, and Professor Kelso, OF
Lafayette.
Prof Ernest w. Rettger, of the State Uni
versity, spoke on Some Recent Develop
ments in Modern Mathematics, discussing
the advances made in analytical geometry
and emphasized the fact that it is due to the
personal investigation of mathematicians
that new theories have been evolved and
that teachers must keep pace with them In
order to properly teach children, even in the
lower grades. The following officers were
then elected: President, George l.. Roberts,
Greensburg; vice president, II. s. Voor-
hees Brookville; Secretary, Miss. Amelia
rnittee was selected as follows: Chairman,
Prof. d. A. Rothrock, Indiana State Univer-
sity; John E. Higdon and w. F. Morgan, of
the Indianapolis and Terre Haute high
schools