The Somerset reporter., 1907-07-04
For the kEroETEE.
Reform In the Study of Arithmetic

For years teachers and parents
have felt that the Arithmetics studied
in the common schools By pupils from
Il 70 i years Of age were loaded
with material that j. either too ab-
struse for pupils Of that age or If no
practical valus. having become obso
lete. There are few pupils in the
common schools Of today who are
sufficiently matured 70 be able u sue
cessfully grapple with these problems,
10 clearly grasp the principles and
classify their applications. The re
suit is that most students Of the latter
half Of the so-called large Arith-
metics are in constant state Of
confusion and encouragement This
is shown by their horror II tests and
by the results Of those tests
Because Of these thiHg-. the mem
beers Of the Somerset School Superin-
tendent's Ass n. Representing the
three largest az well as several Of the
smaller towns OF the county. have
agreed to omit: Metric system. Long
itude and Time, Builders Estimates,
Approximate Measurements. Stocks
and Bonds, Taxes, True Discount and
Present Worth, Annual Interest, all
rules for Partial Payments except the
L. S. rule, Foreign Exchange, Equa-
ton Of Payments, Averaging Of Ac-
counts, Ratio. Proportion as such
take Simple Proportion by analysis 4,
Compound, Partitive, Conjoined, and
Medal Allegation or Averages Pro
portions. Partnership when the sever
al capitals are invested for unequal
periods, Cube Root with all its appli-
cations, Similar Surfaces and Vol
umes, Contents of Cones Cylinders,
Pyramids and Frustrums, Arithmet
zeal and Geometrical PROFESSIONS or
Series, Annuities, Duodecimals, Cir
culating decimals, and all other arith
metical freaks, from the study Of
Arithmetic in the Grammar grades Of
their common schools, both village
and rural.
1t is not intended TO shorten the
time to be devoted 10 this study SO
much as TO secure time for the need
full study and practice of the remain
ing portions, SO that the pupils shall
leave the common schools well
grounded both in the principles and
practice of the vital portions of
Arithmetic. If they can work the
four fundamental rules correctly and
rapidly, habitually using the decimal
point when multiplying or dividing
by ten or any of its multiples; if they
can readily apply their knowledge of
factors, least common multiples, and
greatest common divisors; if they are
familiar with the use of Common and
Decimal Fractions, readily changing
either form to that of the other when
convenience requires and using the
decimal as a matter of course; if they
can reduce the various forms of De-
nominate Numbers by Analysis with
out confusion; if they can make
practical and ready application oil
Percentage as needed in Profit and
Loss, Commission and Brokerage
Commercial Discount, Insurance
Duties, Simple and Compound Inte-
rest, and Bank Discount, we believe
they will be able in after life, with
matured minds and a more correct
understanding of the relations Of
things, to SO apply any or all of thi;
knowledge as to be able to success
fully meet any emergency, whether il
be Allegation or Annual Interest.
Because of our action in this matter
we believe ourselves entitled Il
medals from the Society for the pre-.
vention of Cruelty to Children and tt
the lasting gratitude of teachers. We
sincerely trust that other Superin-
tendents will speedily join us in the
good work. In fact we need theil
help in all that our Assn. is trying tC
do for the Improvement of the sehoo
work of the county.
CHAs. f. BALL.