QUESTION OF FIGURES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 157, 15 October 1912, Page 2

QUESTION OF FIGURES.

Whether boys or girls have the best "head for figures" has been the subject of an inquiry by the London County Council, and considerable evidence was gained

on this interesting . question. Opinions oxpressod on t.lie facts, apart from their interpretation wore decisively in favour of a greater general mental capacity for mathematics, especially as tested by the solution of problems, among boys, and of greater neatness, accuracy, and conscientiousness in carrying out rules and processos among girls. It was, however, stated that many brilliant exceptions were to bo found amongst, tho gins. . Tho evidence went further to show that tho genius is balanced by the dullard moro often among groups of boys than among groups.of girls. These differences of capacity are noticeable even in the. infants departments. The evidence on this-point from nearly fifty, head mistresses was very distinctly in favour of the greater arithmetical ability of boys, i'ho evidence coming from mixed departments aro still.

more decisive in favour of the boys. Inspectors and examiners, also, on the whole, concur in placing boys above girls as regards initiative and power .-of arithmetical reasoning. An interesting memo-, randum was furnished! giving tile results of a deliberate experimeiit. made upon this question. An examination of arithmetic was held in five London .County Council schools, in each of which the conditions-under which ,tho-hoys ! and girls, are taught are approximately equal, and in-two are identical, the classes being mixed throughout. In each school, mixed or otherwise, the girls were considerably, behind the boys in problem work; in. a set of questions given'to tho,mixed schools only and involving merely accurate working according to rules, the girls showed a slight superiority. .The evidence coining from training colleges attended by men and women was unanimous in favour of tho men. So varied, however, were the opinions expressed as to tho causes- of this difference .that tho rcnori suggests that tho subject merits further investigation and esperiment.