“SHOCKING”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 109, 21 April 1933, Page 7

“SHOCKING”

CHILDREN’S HANDWRITING STANDARD TO BE DEPLORED. LACK OF CHARACTER The opinion that the standard of handwriting in the schools of New Zealand was to be deplored for its lack oi character was expressed by Mr K Sainsbury at to-day’s monthly meeting ot the Hawke’s Bay Education Board. He hoped that teachers in the primary schools would do their utmost to improve the standard amongst their pupils. "In proportion to the standard attained m other branches of education, the handwriting is absolutely shocking,” he thought. “The older the child gets the worse his or her handwriting seems to become. 1 refer chiefly to the lack of character in the haii.iu riting in the New Zealand schools. Some of the writing of pupils m standard six is absolutely to be deplored. 1 myself tliiuk that 1 urn placing my linger on the root of the worst phase of education in New Zealand. 1 am not blaming the teachers, but compared to other things taught m the schools, the handwriting is very bad indeed. After all, writing shows the character of a person and teachers should do their utmost to try and improve the standard.” The chairman, Mr J. Wauchop, agreed that handwriting amongst school children to-day was bad and was not so exact as it should be. It was suggested by Mr T. Coleman that writing with too fine a nib was the cause of the trouble. “One of the reasons why handwriting is so bad at the present time is that it is not required so much,” said the senior inspector, Mr T. A. Morland. “’There is far more mechanical writing nowadays, such as typewriting. I agree that good writing is one sign of character and culture and 1 can assure you that this matter will receive my full attention.”