THE MODERN WAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1945, Page 2

THE MODERN WAY

ARITHMETIC STUDY PICTURES AND "SHOPS" New arithmetic text-books, conforming to the requirements of the revised syllabus adopted last year, have been prepared for use in all primary schools. These books make possible a more practical approach in teaching ar u '-"-tic, by which the subject becomes more interesting to pupils because its immediate usefulness is evident. This is clearly indicated in the Standard 111. arithmetic book, which is now being distributed. Arithmetical problems dealing with everyday domestic and economic affairs, accompanied in many cases by appropriate illustrations, are featured. While ample provision is made for a thorough grounding in basic methods of calculation, exercises in addition, multiplication, subtraction and so on are often disguised in problems covering a wide variety of activities in which children themselves engage outside the classroom. All the problems are related to New Zealand conditions. Many exercises deal with the handling of money and the purchase of groceries, meat, coal, furniture, petrol and other commodities. The prices set out in the text-book are as far as possible the ruling retail prices. Experience in the actual paying of money and receiving of change is provided in Standard 111. through "classroom shops." Dairy produce and groceries—real or substitute, but marked at ruling retail prices—are bought and sold by children amongst themselves. Exercises involving addition and subtraction of hours and minutes hinge about portion of an actual NewZealand railway timetable reproduced in the text-book. So while gaining arithmetical knowledge, children also benefit from practical experience in the use of railway timetables. Tables of measurement, of weight, and so on, are no longer a collection of meaningless figures and words to be learnt by rote, but rarely understood. Many of the sums to be worked by the children are based on their gaining a knowledge and understanding of tables of measurement, for instance, by actually measuring things for themselves—a desk perhaps, a pencil, a room, or a cricket pitch. This is merely one example of the practical approach that is followed throughout the work. The Standard IV. book, more advanced, but prepared on similar practical lines to the Standard 111. book, is expected to be published shortly. Books for the lower classes are already in use.

The new text-books are provided free to pupils. They are attractively printed and illustrated, are prepared by the Education Department and printed by the Government printer.