Back in the mid 50s and before then students were taught penmanship. Namely how to hold a writing instrument and how to write cursive. One was graded on one's proficiency and neatness. There was a standard way to hold a pencil or pen in one's hand. That technique using the opposing thumb distinguished humans from the lower casts of animals.
Students used pencils until the third grade at which point they received their first ink pen, usually a Waterman pen, and blue ink. Blue-black, black and even turquoise inks were available but delayed until high school. Paper sizing assured the ink would not mess up the page. One could judge the future success of a person by how they wrote with a pen and moreover how neat they were in doing so.
Now if one looks at students they write using instruments that barely provide for any useful purpose and the grip the student has on the instrument looks more primitive than a rat's holding a rancid piece of pizza on the New York subway. The scratching is incomprehensible and the spelling never accurate not to mention the syntax.
The educational establishment has adopted computers which serve the purpose of entering answered to multiple choice questions and eliminate the need for a teacher to understand any one of their students needs.
Penmanship was a window to a students mind and character. It is a loss to no longer have that insight. When I graded exams and Problem Sets I could see what the student missed and what my faults as an instructor were. That is now lost. There is no pride in writing, and worse yet we have social media that destroys both writing and civility.
Just a thought for the day. Yes, I still have my Shaffer pen, blue black ink, ans a notebook with sizing. Rare as it may be. I also write and send letters. In ink!
Posts
