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Story: Primary and secondary education

Teaching arithmetic

Video file

This newsreel from 1950 shows a new approach to teaching arithmetic to young children, by allowing them to discover principles for themselves through a series of carefully planned activities.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: The first two years at school. National Film Unit, 1950

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Primary and secondary education – Curriculum changes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/36651/teaching-arithmetic (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 29 May 2012.