Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-10-22
How To Teach Writing.


~htAAFAAl. VIZ hifA 49,. a Vas ilANAAA
reader, the school teachers prodomi-
nate. OF these the major proper
ton are in the primary or common
school. 1t is for these that this ar
ticle is especially intended.
Methods of teaching any branch
must be governed by contingent cir
cumstances; the method OF teaching
writing employed in a business col
lege, having pupils advanced in years
and attainments, is not possible of
employment in primary or district
school. In a business college a more
progressive course may be followed;
the pupils are capable of retaining
more Of the instruction given, for
they are more mature, and usually
more interested and enthusiastic
But with primary pupils 1t is quite
different, their progress is much
slower and difficult, and their copies
have to be more carefully graded.
The itinerant professor who conducts
miscellaneous classes during a term
OF ten, fifteen or twenty lessons nee
cssarily adopts still different course.
His must be brief, comprehensive,
practical course, combining move
ment drills, forms, combinations
and application in written line and
page.
In writing, as in everything
else, we must have 4 standard
means by which to settle all
doubts as to the proper forms.
The success Of tie special pcnman-
ship teacher over tine other lies large
/ ~ IN the fact that his arc fixed stand
ards approaching the engraved ,ript,
such being his skill with the pen.
There is little danger OF our pupil,
loosing individually" CAS- is The cry
of some aiarmists ut the sight OF
exact or engraved copi for thD}
VIII go mould the given forms
drought the combined influence ai
character and temperament 'hat ID
viii ice retained. 1t ha, hcyn my
IoXpcriouce that the aycrag, school
'ol H's 700 H''N' nun "'''"'''.
"pot' ms WIRING lll> forms 'f' 5"
original that they bear no rc>m-
blancc TO anything else in the world.
nlhpHei'l o. FORM Is 1'.r s'cA- U!-
si'Gia'Hiil' Ii"''l'ai "iI'l1s o''
c"fds an unnecessary .ii'e. '.'.' '''Iii'.
In most Of our schools viii bo found
coSi'Ee Ca copy D"oNS ".il'4 are ID
-i'"' he'p p"1 '"cl S''"' % '''l-
P''iHe"'e" ~ part ny loose paper
opp -'o'A9 "eei = " |.'''t "' io'l'is
'hfouSnoal 'Ac Eli-.''. e'h''--
"oflI 'ha, """.' "'-.,i" ~. 'c =
O"I mere - ye. 90 nV Pf"'uee -, Il
/ Cc"P!-''oN mat - '".i5.1c''i!' ! "e
FORM. are V''iiCI '"I "-,i'c'"e OF III
+ prac,leAo.e' ne I1o" coP!-''"N
VIII nave copies mace up from s'y5
Simplest ana most readily eIea.'..o
lofl-'@- pam Pf'''l'"l ana rap"
YET 'e""'I'" i'
The hour for poamanship III tae
majority OF district schools is The
most stupid Of inc ehure DAY Ihe
pHpilS nave H'Ue or no hiGiG~' aA"
employ various ne'nqds wen - hno" Z
-, 10 me average SeH0ol-poA 10 XIII u'ho'
ms Ought no' TO oo' / mere are va
lIouS ways 70 promote an interest IA
'"e "oih' such rs FURNISHING 'ie
names Oh uiose VINO MAKE 'he mos,
marked mrroYoneh'' III Inc local
paper awarding as a pre- some
work Oh p'hinan'hlp' or giving as a
premium III the same way a specimen
from inc pen OF some proies ioAai
p'hnan' IT Is true the district school
teacher with ms mixed and many
classes cannot give the attention to
Penm2n.hiP tha' 1t deSer, eS' and all
though 1t mas to pe curialled IN time
and attention as have all other
branches II is too often The case ihat
d, IS wholly neglected. Not only
should penmanshlp receive Its tuil
share OF attention, but it can be