Wanganui Education Board.

Manawatu Herald, 21 April 1898, Page 2

Wanganui Education Board.

The usual rnonfniy meeting of the Wanganui Education Board was resumed yesterday morning. Present: Messrs Bridge (chairman), Baker, Spurdle, Sanson, Pirani, Hurley, Leth. bridge and Rev. Ross. £i*

STYLE OF WRITING. The Chairman explained that at the last meeting of the Boar£ tfce-Gom-mittee appointed had recommeaded the adoption of the Southern Cross upright system of writing, and that consideration of the matter was deferred pending the receipt of reports from the Board's inspectors. Mr Vereker Bindon's report, whid^^ went into the matter at some lengtnT 1 N recommended that serious consideration should be given before making such a radical change as suggested in a system that has brought about such excellent results as the one-\nusein • the Board's schools. Mr .Bindoo

pointed out that for several years past writing had been particularly well taught in many ot the schools in the district, so much so that he considered our district in the quality of its writing, ranks-second to none, and is superior to the majority. With regard to " vertical writing," not having taught the system, he advanced the following opinions with some diffidence :— (i) That vertical writing often degenerates into back hand— that is no hand at all ; (2) that it leads to the pen being held badly, and to a cramped style ; and (3) that it does not cultivate flexibility of the fingers, and consequent quickness, to the same extent as sloping writing. In conclusion Mr Bindon supported the introduction of either Vere Foster's " Bold Writing, Civil Service Series," or Whitcombe and Tombs' " Southern Cross," but to the "Erect Writer " he was distinctly opposed. Mr James Milne, in his report, opposed the suggested change to upright writing. This style, he considers, was not consistent with the natural movement of the hand, and consequently not conducive to easy and speedy writing. Moreover, he considered it tended to procure a backward slope He recommended the adoption of the Vere Foster Civil Servioe series of copy book, the writing in which is less sloped than in the original series. The Palmerston branch of the Teachers' Institute wrote stating that the Institute approves of the semi-vertical style of writ- j ing and not the ereot and absolutely vertical, whioh usually degenerates into a clumsy backhand style. It was resolved that the above letters be referred to the Committee upon copy books, to report at next meeting. — Chronicle.