The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-14
women NOT QUICK
TO LEARN FIGURES
Arithmetic Comes Easier to Men
Who Teach 1t More
Successfully.
INQUIRY STILL GOING OF
Several Hours Devoted to Dis
cussion, but No End Is
Yet in Sight.

Investigation of the curriculum in
the public schools dragged along for
several hours last night, two princi-
of tho Elementary Teachers Associa-
ton coming out as strong supporters
OF the present methods of conducting
the schools. Agar Voolfolk. priuci-
pal OF Springfield School who had
been partially examined at II former
bearing, resumed the stand. ana on
cross examination by Chairman Hut
LEI, of the School Board. said That he
considered supervision by specialists
in various subjects very necessary. lie
stated that If the teachers had the
funds to take summer normal courses
and prepare themselves properly to
teach manual training ana similar
subjects, they would ind their work
less irksome. and such courses would
result IN greater benefit 10 tho pupils.
Mr.. Voolfolk said that arithmetic
usually came easier TO men than to
women. and for that reason ii might
be more difficult Tor women ;eachers''to
successfully teach the course III uritn-
metic in the higher grades
Where II pinchcs.
In answer TO the testimony OF sew
eral elementary teachers who had stat
arithmetic was not sufficient, Se said
that FOR ten year-oId child OF nor
NAL development, the spending of as
much as an hour and q half Il day In
arithmetic would be vast OF time.
the mind of a child not being able to
continue for SO long ii period on one
subject without fatigue. which would
mean not only n waste OF Il portion OF
the arithmetic period out would prove
Il handicap in the teaching OF succeed
Ing classes for that day. The present
time allotment he considered all right
Dana H. Rucker, principal Of stone
wall jackson School, considered the
time allotment sufficient T. the sub
Jects taught If in the hands of compc.
tent teachers. The teachers I'm his
school he considered entirely compc-
tent to handle the subjects In the time
given them. Contrudicting several of
the teachers, he thought sufficient time
was now allowed for supervised writ
Ing. and gave II as siis Judgment tina,
tho l-B pupils werc nov as well pre-
pared 10 enter the high school as they
were ten years ago He would not
eliminate any OF the so-called nones-
sentals, and did not think too much
time was given to them. lie thought
the results obtained from instruction
Ill music. and manual training were
commensurate with the time devoted
TO them' the children being better able
10 do their other work because of such
exercises.
How lie Would Decide.
The movement in the physical Gull
ture course he thought very good. but
1t had not yet been IN use long enough
for the pupils to get the fun benefit of
the physical development intended by
such exercises. Only in the past year.
he said. had he been converted to the
group system of teaching. When first
introduced he had feared it would
work a hardship on the toacheds. If
given his choice between the position
OF principal of school. all of the
teachers OF which were of the older
school, teaching only what are known
rs the essential branches and n school
ially equipped with modern appliances
and with a corps Of teachers fully
trained in tho newer methods of in
stuction. he would unquestionably
take the latter POSITION. He cmprasiz-
take the latter position He emphasiz-
ers In certain special subjects was
very necessary TO their successful in