"The Giant Arithmos."

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 51, 24 May 1884, Page 5

"The Giant Arithmos."

By Mary Steadman Aldvs. London : ALU'MILLAN AND Co., ISS2.

Arithmetic is not ordinarily a favourite branch of study with ladies, but the wife of Professor Aldis forms a distinguished exception to the ude. Mrs Aldis not only delights in exploring the boundless realm of exact truth that is opened up to the student whoundorstandstheproportiesot figures, but she believes that the study is an interesting one, and that the association of arithmetic with everything that is dry, tedious, and mentally exhausting is a popular delusion, originating in ignorance and perpetuated by conservative stupidity. To the student sudering from an intellectual llacidity, a mathematical problem acts like a tonic, bracing the mind and imparting a renewed power of conccntrativcness. So arithmetic, even in its mo«t simple rules, has a wholesome effect upon the budding faculties of the child, and creates the first conscious impressions of proportion — gives a true impulse to habit 5 - of exact observation. Blundering methods of instruction, confused explanations when natural illustrations are needed, and the presentation of abstract propositions which bailie the untrained mind, I'eadily prepare the child for a hearty and life-long hatied of sums. In the little book undci notice, the author has shown how arithmetic may actually be turned into a very amusing game. The author dedicates it .specially to those "mothers who wish to retain some poition of that influence which nature intended them to have in the training of their children, and a\lio refuse t© abandon it wholly to either the schoolmaster or the State " But even when not taken as a clas^-book, there are hints enough in the book, which the teacher can apply in his or her own way, to smooth the path of the young arithmetician, and to make him comprehend that sums are not unmeaning puz/les invented by some wicked ogre foi the mortification of little boys and girK Mrs Aldis presents Arithmos as. irdeed, a giant, but a gracious one, who is as good-natured as he is powerful. In a series of 5S easy lessons she initiates the student into the mysteries of addition, subtraction multiplication, and division, with their appropriate signs. The child, at the conclusion of these lessons, will have a better understanding of the meaning and intention of figures than if he had battered his poor little head against the hard rules of the approved school-books for a whole year. So grounded, he will be ready to approach with intelligence the more abstruse problems of the orthodox sum-book. Wo are glad to have resident in our midst a lady who has done so excellent a service for the little ones. Her book is sure to make its way into popular favour.