The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-04-10

man in society, we'll written letter
is for a merchant when correspond
ing with a firm to whom he is un-
known.
To. excel in any study or in any
thing requires long and persevering
application, and to master this art Is
no exception to the rule but is a part
of the rule itself, and none who may
be supposed to possess this special
gift have attained to any degree of
excellence without long and diligent
practice.
knowledge of every kind grows
like a plant. Every professional
teacher of penmanship will tell you
that writing is not natural and that
genius in penmanship is the work of
years.
We sometimes hear it remarked
practice makes perfect" and won
der if those who repeat the old ad-
dage understand it's meaning. Prac-
tice of the right kind and in the right
way tends to perfection.
The reverse of the proposition is
just as true. Misdirected effort
leads In an opposite direction by con-
firming error strengthening 1t into
habit and increasing the difficulties
of attaining to that eXcellency which
is the object in view.
By persistency Horace Greedy be-
came renowned as a writer OF hero
glyphics. Also, James A. Garfield
by constant application became an
easy graceful writer. We live in a
time when it seems that every child
in our favored and happy land should
at least be taught to write a good
business hand. With all the advant-
ages of the present, do we find the
average child good writer?
1t is needless to await an answer.
Are the children of the public schools
to blame for their poor writing?
You say, mo" Then the teacher of
such schools must be a hindrance
rather than an aid in this branch.
Ask them why they do not teach
writing and you get the same old
answer, II really have no time for
it,"
When pupils are properly drilled
from the time they enter school, they
write beautifully and rapidly two
years before entering the high school.
And graduate in penmanship before
entering the high school. Not only
this but such a drill gives hand
writing that will be retained in the
High school and in business. Here
is a beautiful illustration Of pupils
verifying in after life the good things
well taught by a faithful teacher.
Penmanship is not only neglected
in the public schools but in the col
leges, in the normal schools, in the
county Institutes, we may safely say
in every school except the business
colleges or schools of penmanship. In
the colleges it is not considered eth
er from an artistic or practical point
but simply as medium. In the nor
NAL schools drawing is regarded
higher than the plain common sense
skill needed in everyday life. In the
county Institutes a teacher Of pen
manship is seldom ever employed for
this reason-the teachers and pro-
fesors when taking their college or
normal course did not learn enough
about writing to enable them to
teach 1t. And the finance is gener-
ally in such a depleted condition that
the powers that be do not feel that
they can employ professional pen
man who received his knowledge
where little else was taught.
College and normal school grad
yates should be just as capable Of
teaching plain writing as they are Of
any branch in common education.
If we reach the pupils of the pub
lie schools, 1t must be with the as
sistance of the teachers. And still
more to reach the teachers, instruc-
tors in penmanship must get them
interested, so that when carrying on
the work they will be examples in
both theory and precept. For it re-
quires line upon line and precept
upon ptecept to accomplish anything
from the teachings given.
All boards of education look with
pride upon the ones who readily
grasp every line given by the special
teachers. The warp and the woof
thus found will soon form network
Of meshes woven and interviewer
with beautiful lines and curves.
AUGUSTA WALTER CRUM,
I Blackfoot, Ida.