This is an exaggerated picture of the facts, since no count is made of those who especially dislike arithmetic. Arithmetic is as unpopular with some as it is popular with others. When full allowance is made for this, arithmetic still has popularity above the average. Stern ['05] asked, "Which subject do you like most?" and "Which subject do you like least?" The balance was greatly in favor of gymnastics for boys (28-1), handwork for girls (32-1½), and drawing for both (16½-6). Writing (6½-4), arithmetic (14½-13), history (9-6½), reading (8½-8), and singing (6-7½) come next. Religion, nature study, physiology, geography, geometry, chemistry, language, and grammar are low.
McKnight ['07] found with boys and girls in grades 7 and 8 of certain American cities that arithmetic was liked better than any of the school subjects except gymnastics and manual training. The vote as compared with history was:—
| Arithmetic | 327 liked greatly, | 96 disliked greatly. |
| History | 164 liked greatly, | 113 disliked greatly. |
In a later study Lobsien ['09] had 6248 pupils from 9 to 15 years old representing all grades of the elementary school report, so far as they could, the subject most disliked, the subject most liked, the subject next most liked, and the subject next in order. No child was forced to report all of these four judgments, or even any of them. Lobsien counts the likes and the dislikes for each subject. Gymnastics, handwork, and cooking are by far the most popular. History and drawing are next, followed by arithmetic and reading. Below these are geography, writing, singing, nature study, biblical history, catechism, and three minor subjects.
Lewis ['13] secured records from English children in elementary schools of the order of preference of all the studies listed below. He reports the results in the following table of percents:
| Top Third of Studies for Interest | Middle Third of Studies for Interest | Lowest Third of Studies for Interest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawing | 78 | 20 | 2 |
| Manual Subjects | 66 | 26 | 8 |
| History | 64 | 24 | 12 |
| Reading | 53 | 38 | 9 |
| Singing | 32 | 48 | 20 |
| Drill | 20 | 55 | 25 |
| Arithmetic | 16 | 53 | 31 |
| Science | 23 | 37 | 40 |
| Nature Study | 16 | 36 | 48 |
| Dictation | 4 | 57 | 39 |
| Composition | 18 | 28 | 54 |
| Scripture | 4 | 38 | 58 |
| Recitation | 9 | 23 | 68 |
| Geography | 4 | 24 | 72 |
| Grammar | — | 6 | 94 |
Brandell ['13] obtained data from 2137 Swedish children in Stockholm (327), Norrköping (870), and Gothenburg (940).
In general he found, as others have, that handwork, shopwork for boys and household work for girls, and drawing were reported as much better liked than arithmetic. So also was history, and (in this he differs from most students of this matter) so were reading and nature study. Gymnastics he finds less liked than arithmetic. Religion, geography, language, spelling, and writing are, as in other studies, much less popular than arithmetic.
Other studies are by Lilius ['11] in Finland, Walsemann ['07], Wiederkehr ['07], Pommer ['14], Seekel ['14], and Stern ['13 and '14], in Germany. They confirm the general results stated.
The reasons for the good showing that arithmetic makes are probably the strength of its appeal to the interest in definite achievement, success, doing what one attempts to do; and of its appeal, in grades 5 to 8, to the practical interest of getting on in the world, acquiring abilities that the world pays for. Of these, the former is in my opinion much the more potent interest. Arithmetic satisfies it especially well, because, more than any other of the 'intellectual' studies of the elementary school, it permits the pupil to see his own progress and determine his own success or failure.