Resumen

Primary schools increased a lot during the 19th century in France. This school system was really founded with the Guizot’s law in 1833. Arithmetic integrated the contents of primary teaching. At this moment, there is no detailed curriculum. Consequently, textbooks propose different matters. We chose analysing 63 books published between 1798 and 1881. Analysed schoolbooks show few theoretical knowledge in lessons. In the opposite, authors describe proceeding knowledge with a lot of details. Students have to learn arithmetic, especially learn by heart, and they have to do arithmetic. They have to count orally, and after to do written work. They train doing a lot of exercises.