The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-23
.PENMANSHIP IS
TOPIC OF REPORT
VERTICAL FORM THE BEST FOR
FIRST THREE GRADES.
After That Pupils Should Be Permitted
Some Choice and a Forward Slant
Can Be Safely Encouraged Points
from the Report of Committee Ap-
pointed by State superintendent.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. " .r.'
Winona, Mimi. April 23.-Brief reference was
made the other day to the report of the COM
mittee appointed by the Minnesota Superintend-
ents' association to investigate the writing ques-
ton. At that time the report had passed out of
the hands of Superintendent Frazier Of this city,
but 1t has now been returned to him and it is
possible to refer to 1t somewhat more at length
It is regarded as an important contribution TO
educa tional work in Minnesota and rejecting
| credit upon the extended study Of the subject
by the committee. the other members Of which
were G. C. Tonning, superintendent Of the Will
mar schools, and J. NJ Mcconnell, superintend-
ent of the Mankato schools. The subject Of
writing Is considered at length in six type
written pages leading up to the following con-
illusions:
First-The direction of writing, whether YER
tical or a slight forward or backward slant,
is not the most essential consideration. -
Second-In the intermediate and upper grades
the muscular movement should be taught.
Third-Greater care should be taken in the
training of the pupils in proper position Of the
body and manner of holding the pen. -
Foufth-For young children, say in the first
three grades, the advantages of the upright or
vertical letter form over any other are so great
as to justify its exclusive use in these grades.
| Fifth-Accompanying movement exercises In
the intermediate grades, and after pupils have
been habituated to careful pen-holding, the pn-
pills individuality should be allowed to, assert
| itself as to the direction of his writing. ~
| Sixth-With skillful teaching and excellent su-
peryisiOn it is probably safe to encourage or
require a forward slant in the intermediate and
| upper grades, but without these it is believed
! much better results will be obtained II pupils
! are allowed to continue the of the vertical
form unless their own natural tendency leads
them to adoot some modification or variation
from the vertical.
Seventh-Pupils going from one system OF
schools to another should not be hampered by
any unnecessary arbitrary requirements as to
the direction of their handwriting. r.
| Eighth-The fact that pupils change teachers
each year makes the use Of copybooks important
| If not essential 80
| Ninth-In neither the grades nor the high
school should pupils be required to do any more
writing in given time than they can do we'll
and teachers, both grade and high school, should
insist upon care and neatness In all the writer
| work Of their pupils We also recommend thai
specific instruction be provided for highschoo
oupils who are deficient in writing.
| Tenth-When expedient, we recommend thai
a special room fitted with tables be provided
pupils of grammar grades and high school. n
| Eleventh-We recommend that more atten
ton be given to the writing MATERIAL tina
| good pens good penholders, good paper and goo
Ink be provided We believe that false economy
in this matter has been detrimental to the worl
in writing.
Leading up to these conclusions the RESPECTIVE
merits of the old slant or Spencerian system
of writing and the vertical system are discussed
at length, and it is pointed out that promnen
advocates of both schools practically agree, a
least so far pupils from about the fourt
grade and. upward ARE concerned, that move
q, sment exercises are of value as a means of CT
ordinating the muscles of the arm to the ~
uurements of easy and rapid writing.