Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-04-01
VERTICAL WRITING.
Why IL IL More Satisfactory than to
slipping Method.

Why 1t II More Satisfactory than ~
sloping Method.
The style of writing now known 40
the vertical originated as system in
Europe. And, strange to say, 1t was the
produce Of hygienic rather than peda-
goglcal Investigation. Physicians seek
ing the causes of the increasing prevail
ence Of defective sight and spinal trou-
BILE traced them to sloping writing.
Then followed experiments that led to
the vertical system.
It was found that business men,
noted for their rapid and legfble writ
ing, had been forced to acquire hand
very different from that taught in
schools. They held their pens different
~. and assumed a position at their
desks other THAN that which they had
been taught. A study of the best speci-
mems Of these business hands showed
that the writer's had gone back to the
simple, round, Romanlike characters,
which many teachers claimed as natu-
raj to young children. These business
men sat immediately in front of their
desks, their hands taking the most nst-
ural position. On these facts the sye-
TEN of vertical writing was based.
1t has spread through England and
Canada: and is required Of all appli-
eants for Positions under the British
Government. From Canada it came to
the United States. and Is now employ
ed to some degree in the public schools
Of many of the larger cities of the
Northern, Eastern and Southern States
In the New York and Boston public
schools the privilege of choosing be-
tween several text books and systems
selected by the Board Of Commission
ers is allowed the principal Of each
school. AS result both the sloping
and vertical systems are taught In the
public schools Of those cities, though
a majority Of the principals and teach
ers after fair trial favor the vertical.
They claim that it is the easiest to read,
the easiest to write, and the easiest to
learn. That it admits Of the most hy-
gienic position, the most natural move
ment and the greatest rapidity.
The position required Is with tho
body straight before the desk, and the
copy set squarely in front Of the writer.
Both hands rest on the desk and the
pen Is held so that both points Of the
nib are used. The movement Is Of the
fingers and not Of the arm, as In the
oblique system. Hence 1t is asserted
that the effort is more natural and less
fatiguing. 1t Is also claimed that 1t ID
helped by the study and practice o6
shorthand and drawing, the position
and manner Of holding the pen being
the same.
A prominent teacher, principal OF .
public school in New York City which
has reputation for the excellency Of
itspenmanship, when interviewed said:
THE writing in my school was des-
picable, and no amount Of effort on the
teachers part seemed to improve IL
materially. I visited other schools.
questioned other teachers, all with the
same result, namely, that it took 30
long and was SO difficult to teach the
average child to write legibly. noticed
that child naturally makes round let
tiers, and that the greatest fault the
teachers have to overcome is the child'0
unwillingness to keep the proper slant
of its copy book and the required posi-
ton. began to think Of the vertical
system and determined to try 1t in
some OF the rooms. In three month";
time there was such q marked improve
ment that required the teachers oc
every room to- adopt t."-RochesteF
Post-Express.