From: CREECH@LSTC2VM.stortek.com (Teresa Creech)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Lefthanded Items
Date: 28 Jul 92 20:11:40 GMT
Organization: StorageTek SW Engineering

Kerri,
I am posting this note in misc.kids because I feel strongly about this
and would like all the parents of left-handed children to hear what I
have to say.
 
I am left handed.  I have not had a whole lot of trouble using right
handed tools and learning to do some things right handed, but i did have
a whole lot of trouble learning to print.  The trouble was not because I
was left-handed.  It was because the teacher didn't understand that a left-
handed person does not write the same way as a right handed person.
 
Please, get a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper and a pencil so you can follow what
I am saying.  My first grade teacher said "Place the paper straight on your
desk."  So we did.  You do it now.  Then she said "Turn the paper so that it
is now slanted to the left."  So we all rotated the paper counter clockwise.
Please rotate your paper.  The next step was to pick up our pencils.  Most of
the kids picked up theirs in their right hands, of course.  I picked up mine
in my right.  All of you misc.kidders need to pretend to be left-handed for
this step.  Pick up the pencil in your left hand.
 
Now we were all ready to begin learning to print.  I had trouble.  Something
wasn't quite right.  I kept having to bend my hand into a wierd position
in order to write on the page correctly.  It didn't feel good.  Try it.
So, I rotated my paper clockwise so that it was now slanted to the right of
center instead of left.  NOW I could print as well as my classmates.  I had
solved the problem.  You see, a left-handed person needs to slant the paper
in the opposite direction from a right-handed person.  With the paper slanted
in the correct (notice I didn't say right :-)  ) direction, I could write as
well as anyone.
 
Little did I know that my problems had only just begun.  Whenever my teacher
saw my paper slanted to the right, she ordered me to slant it in the same
direction as all the other kids.  After all, I was disobeying her orders.
That was not allowed.  So, first grade was tough.  After that, I did what I
pleased and today I have very nice handwriting.  I don't have to twist my hand
into unnatural positions in order to write a sentence.  My handwriting is neat
and readable.
 
You can put away the paper and pencil now.  Thanks for cooperating.
 
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
All of you people with lefties - let them learn to write properly!!!  Find
out how to teach them.  Don't make them learn as if they were right handed!!!
I cringe every time I see a lefty doing contortions in order to write.  It just
is not necessary.
 
Sorry to get on my high horse, but it's a touchy subject for me!!!
(I am a confirmed lefty, my husband is not.  One daughter is a lefty, one
is not, now it looks like one son will be a lefty and the other will not.
We'll have an even split!!!!!  Not bad.  (I did pray for ALL of them to be
lefties, but I guess that it wouldn't have been fair to my husband :_) ))
Thanks,
Teresa
 
PS I don't have an address for a lefty store.  Sorry.
 
PSS Try writing a note so full of rights and writes!!!  Gets confusing!!!