The Educator (Volume 45) - IAMPETH

A close-up of the right hand. Study the fingers.
Good handwriting is executed freely and easily and is
absolutely legible.
Form and movement should be taught together. Illegible
writing is an aggravation and a discourtesy to the
reader and is very costly. Slow labored writing is of very
little value commercially. The average person who really
wants to can learn to write a good easy readable hand.
In the beginning some teachers allow students to go a
little slower in order that a better idea of letter forms
may be acquired. They gradually increase the speed as
the student acquires knowledge of letter forms. The student
should not be allowed to continue in a slow manner.
Other teachers are able to start off in the very beginning
teaching letter forms and swinging them off freely.
We have had many extremes in handwriting. Some
have used exclusive finger movement, otheis have used
pure muscular or whole arm movement.
Today most good penmen use a rather free arm movement
on most capitals and a combination of finger and
arm movement on small letters.
When a kinky line appears it is an indication of too
slow a speed or too much finger movement.
Letters like capital O cannot be made with pure finger
movement without getting awkward places in the line.
It takes a free arm movement on O to get a smooth,
clear line.
Business Writing
By E. A. Lupfer
No. 5
Study the entire posture and the penholding, slant of the
paper, and the location of the textbook. It is so placed
that frequent reference can be made to the copy.
CHECK YOUR HANDWRITING
Are the letters on a uniform slant?
Are letters spaced uniformly?
Is pen pressure uniform ?
Is line too heavy or too light ?
Do letters rest on base line ?
Are letters uniform in size?
Are your loops the same size?
Do you end letters correctly?
Many teachers use general exercises like these ovals and push-pull exercises by John S. Griffith of Englewood Business
College, Chicago, Illinois. A certain amount of this type of practice is helpful, but you can do too much of it.