Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1950. HANDWRITING
One of the evidences that the education system of New Zealand is under review, at least as regards the teaching of subjects both traditional and new, is to be found in the reports of committees set up from time to time by the N.Z.E.I. or the Education Department. The latest is a report on handwriting, historically one of the three R’s.
Only a rash person would affirm that writing has deteriorated, with the years, for those who have much to do with adults’ handwriting find an admirable hand i- rare. It may not be polite'to point out Lbat the signatures of most business executives and professional men are not easy to decipher, but such is the case; and it is impossible to distinguish as to quality between the hands of those who were at school 50 years ago and those who left but five short years since. Again, those who have studied the manuscripts .even of famous writers may be forgiven for. wondering when and where they learned to write. The report referred to above records agreement that the major weaknesses of writing in the schools are that lack of ease and speed are apparent at the primary stage, and that the demands of adolescent and adult life with increased speed see deterioration of form to such an extent that illegibility and unattractiveness are common. The changes recommended, changes which it is hopped will effect general improvement,/are—the adoption of a uniform style and a uniform method of teaching throughout the Dominion, and with these the taking of effective steps to implement the scheme in the classroom. The essential qualities of good writing are set out as three: Easy rhythmic production, beauty and legibility of form, and reasonable speed in execution. With these criteria in mind the report recommends a standard capital and small alphabet; those who went to school 30 years ago of more will be interested to learn that the latter includes the “oldfashioned” R, which is not easily confused with V, and that a modified uncrossed T is prescribed—both because they are easier to produce than are the more conventional forms. If legibility and °race on the one hand and a satfsfactory rate and ease of production on the other are developed together it is hoped to double the speed of writing by the end of the primary school course. Copybooks continue “out, ’’ for an integration of writing with the i est of the syllabus)is desired; the psychology'of the matter is the stimulation in the pupil of a .fell need” "for writing, for it is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. Those who have struggled through well-nigh llegible . letters and manuscript all but indecipherable will wish the new effort abundant success, as indeed will all who believe that a thing worth doing is worth doing well. The typewriter will retain its large and useful place in business, but for social purposes handwriting also has a function which it fitly fulfils only' when it is good writing.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 113, 25 February 1950, Page 4
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515Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1950. HANDWRITING Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 113, 25 February 1950, Page 4
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