HANDWRITING IN THE SCHOOLS

Southland Times, Issue 19034, 30 April 1903, Page 2

HANDWRITING IN THE SCHOOLS

In persistently drawing attention to the bad writing of the pupils in our schools Mr K. E. Hammond is striving after a much-needed reform. Kither openly or tacitly it is universally agreed that the pupils in our primary schools are not. taught, or at least do not learn, to write a

lepfihlcr hand distinguished by some proU'iition to grace and style, and if the truth were known it would" probably be found that the pupils in the High Schools are. in no better ense. It -h, the experience of every business (inn that it is almost im-

possible to find an oflice boy or

junior clerk, fresh from school, who can write a hand that is lit to appear in commercial papers, or c\i-n on an envelope. The ordinary application lor a situation presents a collection of diminutive, twisted and ;ilnio.st indecipherable characters to the wrathful eye of the cmplover. vho sets himself to the painful ;nd unsatisfactory task oi selecting 'Ihe material of greatest proims.\ lor most of the lads have to !>r taught how to write after they enter 'he shop or warehouse or ottio'. (;>'ligraphy. in (he sense of elen'.ml prtimanship. is a lost art. liut tliere is no reason why the pupils in p-imary schools should not he able :■> wriTe a ne.vt. orderly, readable hud' by the time they reach the Sixth Standard. The average Sixth Si.-in-Lud bo\ . however, oilers his leavers a handwriting for which the i|)"lhet

villainous

is not. (on übusivi

If we enquire into causes il would appear that there are faults I otii in the method of leaching and m the teaching itself. In their annu.il report Inspectors Hendry and lunik remarked that it is with the ulm;»sl difficulty that many teaclvis i«m be got to fare the drudgery of ,iU"ntion to detail implied in the successful teaching of writing : and tint', it would be of immense benefit to the community if all children vu re taught the same style, tile uirr.; of designating the best >:.yle lf ; r.g thrown on the Education I epni tment. If teaching writing is tedious and difficult, special care should be taJieti that the teachers d > roi si irk it. Wo have great sympathy with teachers, and wo believe 'hat, with the syllabus in an overcrowded m.d congested condition they cannot be expocted to bring the children to proficiency in every subject . l>it. nonetheless, writing is a subject so closely connected with brr.iil tfhd butter that no effort .should be spared to have it well taught, ;vi<l : f an unmanageable syllabus is 'c leal cause of its neglect the subjects should be re-arranged, and in th^ matter the F.ducation Board t;'d under effective assistance. ''he r.dvlce of the Inspectors that only onos.vle should be tajiight commends i'^'if to common sense, for " any style "' is

•no style." The committee o: the Middle School will have tf-me a .*>•-■ rvice to the business eont'ti'inky if they i>ush their agitation lor <• letter' systoin of teaching handiv:.'iig

to a' successful issue, anil ih-Mr efforts in that direction will h.\.p me hearty support of the puhli<\