The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-01

Abstract OF Address Upon "sohooI and
| business Arithmetic" by DR.. Edward
! w. stitt, Principal of Public School
| No. SO, New York city.
| A careful review Of the requirements
in arithmetic of thirty of our prominent
| citizens shows that in many cases the
present demands are altogether excess
sive. Such subjects as Partial Pay
ments, Compound Partnership, Cube
Root and Equation of Accounts, are I'M
necessary to most of our pupils, ana
therefore should have no place in our
elementary schools. 1 find, however,
| that in 50 per cent. of these cities Com
| pound Partnership is still required. In
AZ per cent Partial Payments Is per-
| mitted to waste the time which might
better be employed in different direc-
tons. Other percentages are equally
stratling, and seem to demand radl-
cal change, which shall lead to mini
mum requirements more nearly IN ac-
cord with practical life.
Statistics prove that out of one hum
dred children, only four reach the high
school, two the college, and the rest en-
gage in business. The welfare of the
many must determine correct minimum
requirements for all. In an effort to
discover what the business world would
demand in arithmetic, l sent nearly
thousand letters to representative firms
in New York, asking for information
and suggestions along these lines. The
experiment was made practical rather
than simply theoretical by the co-ope-
ration and endorsement of number of
leading merchants and bank presidents.
A large number of replies have been
received, and their careful analysis and
comparison lead to some fair generali-
cations.
Forty-four per cent. of the writers
strongly urge that there is no need for
any arithmetic beyond the fundamental
rules, and common and decimal frac-
tions. The information from the re-
plies was classified under the heads of
Mechanical Aids and Processes Of So
luton. Under the former the following
were especially noted: Importance of
decimal points; legible figures; use of
interect-tables; accuracy and speed;
Shortcuts; Multiplication Table to
20x20; familiarity with English Money.
Under processes of Solution, only brief
reference can here be made.
In Interest, the old six per cent. meth
cd has been superseded by the Bank
Method or by the "Sixty-day Meth
3D." Wholesale merchants agree that
ability to calculate interest quickly and
accurately, and to handle trade dis
counts to advantage, constitute the ne
cessary equipment, outside Of the fun
damental rules. In the main, the meth
DDS of mechanics accord with those
used in school Technical solutions
have been evolved in all the trades,
which seem not to be applicable to
school. The Importance of approxima-
ting results leads many writer's to in
sist that teachers should require that
prior to the solution of the problem, the
scholars should attempt to approximate
the answer. Many firms complain Bit
terly of the inaccuracy of their clerks
The Importance of mental arithmetic
was strongly urged, many desiring that
half the work in schools should be men,
tai.
To briefly summarize, the following
are recommended:
"a Reduction of the requirements.
(2) Importance of drill and review.
(3) Demand for practical work.
(D Decimal and Common fractions
are most important.
60 Accuracy and speed are co-ordi-
nate essentials.
Co Constant attention to rapid calcu-
lations.
% Harmony between school and bus
mess methods.