The Educator (Volume 45) - IAMPETH

Short Cuts to Plain, Fluent
Handwriting
You as students have a right to be
taught the correct mechanics of
habit before habits have been actually
acquired. Hovifever, you are the
creator of your own habits. But
there is a vast difference between
having a general tfesire to improve
and setting out in a business like
way to realize that desire. Daily
practice is an attempt to make skill a
habit, just as wholesome mental attitudes
lead to good mental habits.
Assume an easy, relaxed body posture.
Place both elbows at the edge
of the table or desk. Tip the paper
at a comfortable angle, holding and
adjusting it with the left hand. The
penholder must point toward the
right shoulder or between the shoulder
and elbow. The last two fingers
glide on the paper—the little finger
to contact the paper from the first
joint to the nail, and the third finger
to glide on the nail. The wrist
underneath must be raised slightly so
that the hand and pen may glide
easily. The top of the wrist should
be tipped a little to the right. The
pen or pencil point, the last two fingers,
and the hand must be trained
to glide in unison. In all writing use
a combination of the arm, hand and
fingers, with the action of the arm
predominating over the use of the
hand and fingers. See that the penholder
is placed against the hand at
By C. E. Doner
By the late H. J. Ennis
The Educator 17
or back of the knuckle, and that the
thumb is slightly back of the forefinger
on the left side of the holder.
The joint of the forefinger must
curve outward—away from the palm
of the hand, not toward the palm.
There is always a little curve in the
thumb—never held straight. Write
with the pen point level on the paper
—avoid holding it on the left or right
side.
In all your writing see to it that
you write with a rhythmic succession
of fluent movements, broken up
slightly by alternate pauses and accelerations.
Study letters, words,
combinations of letters, and fit the
fluent motion to the complexity and
simplicity of the words to be viritten.
When learning the mechanics of
handwriting so that all writing will
eventually become a ready means of
written expression, it is very important
that conditions are kept favorable
at all times for a fluent and controlled
motion. In the adventure of
learning to write well, play the game
according to rule. When you think
your handwriting is at its worst,
study and practice these short-cut
rules and perhaps it will not be long
until all your writing will be at its
best. Perfection, you know, is not
just having, but it is reaching for
something better.
MISS DORST
In renewing her subscription to the
Educator, Miss Alma Dorst states
that her supervision work covers all
work where a learning situation
takes place, which means reading,
writing, arithmetic, spelling, etc.
Her title is Supervisor of Learning
Skills.
Miss Dorst also has charge of the
personnel work in the Oak Park,
Illinois, Public Schools. This year
they are making spelling and virriting
their big objectives.
Miss Dorst is a handwriting expert.
She has the ability to execute
a very skillful and formal style as
well as the ability to teach and supervise
handwriting and allied subjects.
Miss Dorst gave work in Methods of
Teaching and Supervising Handwriting
in the Zanerian summer school
several years ago.
APPRECIATES THE EDUCATOR
We have two grade buildings and
like to send one copy to each building,
a very welcome and useful visitor
each month.
SUPT. L. W. ADAMS,
Anoka Public Schools,
Anoka, Minn.
Subscriber Sam Koide, Honolulu,
Hawaii, states that he is regularly
in the Motion Picture business but
that in his spare time he writes certificates,
diplomas, cards and does
engrossing. Mr. Koide's ornamental
signature is about as well executed
as you can find anywhere.
A large list of subscriptions is
hereby acknowledged from H. W.
West of the Rider College, Trenton,
New Jersey. The Rider College is
famous for its good penmanship.
Edwin Anderson of 110 West Third
Street, Duluth, Minnesota, in renewing
his subscription states that he is
still interested in good penmanship
and for many years has been filling
diplomas and doing other pen work.
Mr. Anderson is getting well along
in years but delights in turning out
pen work. He is also interested in
music. Mr. Anderson enclosed a very
beautifully written card which shows
that he still retains his oldtime skill.
ZANERIAN BECOMES PUBLISHER
OF COMMERCIAL TEXT BOOKS
We had the pleasure of a visit
from our former student, A. B. Zu
Tavern of 2006 Oak Street, South
Pasadena, Calif. Mr. Zu Tavern was
raised in Springfield, Ohio. After
entering the commercial school field,
as a teacher, he became interested
in penmanship and finally came to
the Zanerian to specialize in handwriting.
Today, Mr. Zu Tavern is
head of the Commercial Text Book
Company. Penmanship has played
no little part in Mr. Zu Tavern's
climb to success in commercial education.