PRINTING IN SCHOOLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1923, Page 1

PRINTING IN SCHOOLS.

SYSTEM NOT FAVOURED BY -MASTERS. AUCKLAND Maid, 23. Tin* controversy that lias arisen upon the substitution of printing for writing in public schools shows that the matter is one of more than passing interest to many parents. In an effort to ascertain exactly how the system linin' to lie adopted several well-known Auckland headmasters were interviewed yesterday. Not'one of them expressed liiuisi'l! in favour ol the printing, method, however, the principal objections being that printing oll'cred no note of individuality or character, and that il was not favoured ill business circles.

“it i> qiiiie true that a good deal of the present day writing is not so good as it might lie.” remarked one headmaster, “but tile proportion of bad writers i- small .compared with the good writers and I do not think ii would be

at. all a good thing for all to adopt one monotonous .style of printing. So fur a- I have been able to learn, the banks and leading i ominercail bouses ore not at all in favour of printing, and it would certainly never do for names to be printed instead of written. I know that supporters of the system claim that a signature is always written, but if pupils are taught only to print how can they possibly manage to acquire a characteristic signature

In reply to a query whether any advantage apart from legibility was claimed for the method tin headmaster said there was supposed to be some idea that priming would not lead to “writer's cramp. ■" It certainly would not. lie ob-erved “lor there is no possibility whatever of going at too great a speed. Personally J think it a tiring and laborious process as the pencil must ho lifted after every letter, and I cannot see why a series of peeks should he any easier than the swift flowing motion of ordinary handwriting.” Another headmaster stated that although t lie. primer classes were taught to print lie would not- sanction the continuance of printing into the staudar is to the exclusion of handwriting. A certain amount of printing was done in connection with map work. etc., hut exorcises were always done in writing. “I am really at a loss to know just exactlv how printing has come to he adopted.” he -aid. “f believe the idea started in England and probably some theorist advanced it here, and found certain teachers ready to take it up. The Department and the inspectors are neutral upon the matter, and so far as I know have neither advocated nor discouraged it. Personally I hope the system will not spread and so far as my own school is concerned, the pupils will continue to Ire taught to write in the ordinary way.”