or Arithmetic in Schools.
Year: 1885

page_text: "Number" or Arithmetic in Schools.
I, SARAH LEGG, of 32 Lancaster Road South, in the county of Middlesex,
School Teacher, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE TEACHING OF "NUMBER OR
ARITHMETIC IN SCHOOLS to be as follows:-
"
"
This invention has for object the construction of a simple apparatus whereby
the number lesson in infant schools is rendered a pleasant and healthy occupation
instead of a dry and monotonous one as at present..
According to my invention the ideas of number are represented by three forms
of unit instead of one as hitherto.
The improved apparatus is constructed of a base board which I term a "number
board," this number board is perforated with rows of holes adapted to receive pegs
which may be contained in a suitable receptacle on the apparatus. At each end of
the number board is an upright connected by a cross rail or wire; on one of the
uprights slide a number of balls or equivalent devices which are to represent one
series of units, the other upright is also provided with a number of suitable devices
such as rings, forming a second series of units, the third series of units being
represented by the above named holes and pegs; the said devices representing the
first and second series of units can be slid from the uprights onto the cross rail
or bar.
An apparatus of this construction possesses the following advantages, videlicet:-
The various units are secured on the apparatus instead of being given to tho
child in a loose form as has hitherto been done.
The teacher's work is considerably lessened with either large or small classes as
the various processes worked out by children are seen at a glance by the teacher
instead of the latter having to go to each child to test the accuracy of its work.
Uniformity of work is secured,
'
Where desks are not provided in a school the apparatus can be used with great
ease on a child's lap.
There is no confusion in changing from one form of unit to another.
Ideas of number are impressed on the child's mind in a most vivid form hence
results are arrived at much quicker,

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Facilitating the Teaching of
"Number" or Arithmetic in Schools.
I SARAH LEGG, of 32 Lancaster Road South, in the county of Middlesex,
School Teacher do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has for object the construction of a simple apparatus whereby
the number lesson in infant schools is rendered a pleasant and healthy occupation
instead of a dry and monotonous one as at present.
According to my invention the ideas of number are represented by three forms
of unit instead of one as hitherto.
The improved apparatus is constructed of a base board which I term a number
and form board; this number and form board is perforated with rows of holes
adapted to receive pegs which may be contained in a suitable receptacle on the
apparatus. At each end of the number board is an upright connected by a cross
rail or wire; on one of the uprights slide a number of balls or equivalent devices
which are to represent one series of units, the other upright is also provided with
a number of suitable devices such as rings or discs forming a second series of units,
the other series of units being represented by the above named holes and pegs; the
said devices representing the first and second series of units can be slid from the
uprights onto the cross rail or bar.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood. I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing which represents a perspective
view of an apparatus constructed according to my invention for facilitating the
teaching of "number" or arithmetic in schools.
a, represents the base board and b, b, are the holes which are perforated therein
in rows; c, c, are the pegs which fit in the holes b; d, is the box or receptacle
fixed to the base board a, and serving to contain the said pegs when not in use;
e, and e¹, are the uprights at each end of the board a, and f, is the cross rail
connecting the said uprights which, together with the cross rail, are conveniently
formed of a length of wire bent into the required shape as shewn in the drawing;
g, g, are the balls sliding on the upright e, which balls serve to represent one series
of units and h, h, are the discs sliding on the other upright e¹, and serving to
represent the second series of units the holes b, and pegs c, serving to represent the
other series of units.
The balls g, and discs h, can be slid from their respective uprights e, and e¹, onto
the cross rail f, as shewn in the drawing so as to separate them from the rest of the
balls and discs and in this manner they can be used for teaching number or
arithmetic to children; the pegs c, can also be used for a like purpose by placing
them in the holes b, in the board a.
It will be obvious that the number of rows and the arrangement of the holes
can be varied and the wire e, e¹, f, can be fixed, hinged or removeable,

page_text: An apparatus of this construction possesses the following advantages, videlicet-
The various units are secured on the apparatus instead of being given to the
child in a loose form as has hitherto been done.
The teacher's work is considerably lessened with either large or small classes as
the various processes worked out by children are seen at a glance by the teacher
instead of the latter having to go to each child to test the accuracy of its work.
Uniformity of work is secured.
Where desks are not provided in a school the apparatus can be used with great
ease on a child's lap.
There is no confusion in changing from one form of unit to another.
Ideas of number are impressed on the child's mind in a most vivid form hence
results are arrived at much quicker.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The manufacture and use of the improved apparatus for facilitating the teaching
of "number" or arithmetic in schools substantially as herein before described and
represented in the accompanying drawing.