Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-26
PENMANsHIp IN THE SCHOOLS.

81 Examples CT pculnalslip. from several OF the
Z asses i'll TIC high school building have been placed
in the rcading room OF the Commercial club where
they may be examined by any who are interested
ii, the progress Of the pupils in this art. The his
tory OF pcnn'anship has been one Of frequent
change. Among the older people. thcrc will be a
very distinct recollection OF the style OF pcnn1an-
ship which was marked by sharply angular letters.
Vt a later period, the round letter formation was
favored, with highly ornamental capitals. and heavy
shading on all the down strokes. Then came the
Spcnccrlan form which retained the round forma.
ton but eliminated the shading and much / the
characterization. Then came the vertical system
around which SO much controversy ragged for sew
cral years. More recently. what is known as the
Palmer system has come into favor. This is a re-
version to at least a modification of the Spenccriar
torn. The same general formation is followed. and
the letters are s.anted although not SO much so as
in the Spencerian style. Most of the ornamental
tioH has been abandoned. and the purpose now
seems to be to obtain a round, lcgiblc hand which
may be rapidly written. retaining its regularity, and
deriving most OF its beauty from that fact.
1T IS not easy for pupils to change from one
system OF writing to another. There are pupils
now in the schools who were first taught the Spcn-
cerian form, then the vertical, and later the Palmer
system. The changes have resulted in an irregular
and uncertain handwriting which is not in any way
desirable. In the Grand Forks schools. the Palmer
system has been employed for five years. Most OF
our pupils now receiving regular instruction in pen
rnanship started in under the Palmer system so
That Tic unfortunate effects OF the change Of SvS-
tenn are gradually disappearing.
One element which affects our handwriting
now more than in the past is the greater use which
is made OF written work in the schools. In the old
fashioned schools of a generation or more ago, there
was comparatively little written work outside al
the regular exercises i'll penn,anship. The school
methods OF today require many written exa,nina-
tons and in the higher classes. a very copious tax
ing OF notes. Where so much writing must be
done and done rapidly, and where the writing is not
to be passed upon for its quality. the inevitable
tendency is toward s%crawling. Notes are written
Tor the makers own use, and therefore are frequent
y written carelessly, and the vast amount Of writ
ing which IS called for results in hurried and there
lore inferior work when considered from the stand
point Of penmanship alone. Undoubtedly. this has
IL some measure tended to impair the penmanship
of many pupils. 4.s :. -
An inspection OF the specimens left at the Com
lnercial club for examination will reveal. We be-
sl'e.e,.a1pey satisfactory progress being made in the
ykEEansition from class to class. Business people very
stFequsntly show great interest in this one educa.
tional feature because they are called upon TO en-
pley persons whose penmanship enters very largely
into their equipment for office or other clerical
SsWtork. We believe that examination Of the sannnles
ct writing shown will prove both interesting and
beneficial. $3.50 -