Most of my contemporaries are familiar with the art of handwriting, not to be confused with printing. Some of you can produce excellent examples of penmanship while others…..well, you know who you are. I have admittedly been quite proud of my penmanship over the years but I spent hours upon hours perfecting it so many, many years ago.
Remembering it almost as if it was yesterday, it was my fifth grade teacher Mrs. Jones whom I shall extend all the credit for my handwriting and penmanship credentials. She was also the elementary school’s art teacher so I can easily surmise that one easily influenced the other from her standpoint. And she demanded perfection from her students.
Realizing in those days there was only playing outside and radio for entertainment, I would spend hours just sitting and writing. I can’t say why, but I just loved the art of writing. Now I am not speaking of sitting and making up stories and the like. I mean I just loved sitting and working on my penmanship. I can’t tell you how many times during my school years I would finish my homework and then sit and re-write it all just because I wanted it to look prettier.
My writing generally exhibited the classic slant to the right but there were times when I would decide I’d like a slant to the left better and would change my style. There were other times when I would see another classmate’s writing and be so impressed that I would go home and practice for hours trying to mock the style.
Sadly enough, what propagated the writing of this post on this particular subject was that I have, over the past few weeks, run across several posts from people, even teachers, questioning the need for schools to dwell on teaching writing skills any longer. Since everything is almost 100% keypad initiated these days, they and others are beginning to not see the need to pursue the classroom time and drills associated with handwriting.
Well, I guess I was a bit shocked. For a while I could not believe someone would suggest such a thing, especially an educator. After pondering the issue for a measure of time, however, it slowly began to sink in that we really don’t write like we used to in times past. Of course, some of us who are older and never became acclimated with computers and the associated technology still write as they always did. But eventually those of us who do still partake of the skill will be but a mist on a distant shore.
I hardly ever pick up a pen or pencil and write anymore. The weekly grocery list, an occasional check, or to sign my name here or there and that’s pretty much it! And my writing is not quite as artful as what it used to be some ten or twenty years ago which I guess relates to the old adage, “Use it or loose it!” But I wouldn’t trade the art of writing for anything.
In one sense, I find it very hard to defend my position with regard to maintaining our educational tools in the teaching of writing and penmanship. But on the other hand I cannot imagine a civilization or culture that can only communicate digitally. Are we going to revert back to the days when people signed something by putting their “mark” on the paper?
Anne Gibert said,
July 13, 2009 at 9:47 am
I just love this post. All my life I have been less than happy with my handwriting. And I think, like you, that it is an interesting subject. There are, I think, generational differences in handwriting. Everyone in my grandmother’s generation had a style different from what came later. My mother came from New Zealand and her handwriting had a New Zealand “accent”. I can recognize the New Zealand in my cousin’s handwriting. I also think there is a genetic component. Sometimes I have trouble distinguishing my sister’s handwriting from my own.
I do hope handwriting doesn’t disappear. Sometimes I think that one day all that will be left will be computer screens. All the books and handwritten letters will be in museums. But you and I, Alan, won’t be around to see that sad day.
Glad to see you back online!
Betty said,
July 13, 2009 at 3:32 pm
My handwriting has suffered from disuse in the last few years. The only thing I write is the grocery list, and it’s sometimes hard to read. I used to love to write letters, but now we have e-mail and instant messages. So, no more letters.
coco724 said,
July 13, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Recently, during one of my weekend garage sale treks, I noticed a beautiful photograph/print. It called my name, so when my counteroffer of $5.00 was accepted, it was safely ensconced in the backseat before they had a chance to change their minds.
Prying apart the back, a signature was uncovered, “E J Shadle”, plus the instructions for quantity–(6-16″ x 20″ cream foreground, black edge)–in the same beautiful hand. The writing was beautiful, obviously done with a fine point pen that had been dipped in an inkwell.
When one thinks about that process, it makes sense that one’s handwriting skills would be precise, methodical and beautiful. One had to carefully replenish the ink and just as carefully apply it to paper to have a legible finished product. Time consuming and done by lamplight, too. Sort of like Ginger Rogers dancing backwards AND in high heels
Now, we have an instantly flowing continuous line streaming from the point. No wonder our handwriting has suffered. That and the gene pool we inherited. My Mother’s penmanship is elegant. My Father’s has always been chicken scratch. Guess which one I inherited? The chicken scratch, of course, exacerbated by hurriedly getting to the point because there is always another point on the list..
By the way, E J Shadle ws a photographer who lived and worked in this area in the late 1800’s. With one exception, the mentions that I have unearthed about him describe him as a portrait photographer. I feel very lucky to have found a piece that falls outside that format, and to have uncovered his beautiful handwriting.
kenju said,
July 18, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I agree with you, and I don’t think any teacher should ever give up teaching good penmanship!
Joy said,
July 19, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more Alan. I so appreciate good penmanship. I still try to write as much as possible….I actually enjoy writing cards and letters whenever I get the chance instead of e-mail ones or instant message things. And I agree with Kenju….I certainly hope teachers continue to teach good penmanship in all of our schools.
Bryant said,
July 28, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Hey Alan,
Great post. I agree that the art of handwriting is being lost. I can see it in my two children. They both have pretty good skills in all aspects of their education, but penmanship is not really focused on with their schoolwork (except by me and my wife). My wife’s handwriting is so good and I love the way it looks. Our daughter Hannah seems to have the same style. I hope she continues to develop it. You should look into a program that can generate a font out of your own handwriting. I’ve not convinced my wife to complete the work that it takes to make the font yet, but I’m still going to keep trying. Check it out at http://www.fontifier.com/ and let me know if you try it.
Bryant
ellouise schoettler said,
August 23, 2009 at 8:22 am
Alan, great post. You are touching on many points I agree with about handwriting – although I do most of my wrting these days on on the computer. I still love to write with real ink pens – and because I tend to make a mess with dipping pens I do appreciate the cartridges. Like you I used to practice. Sister Mary Loyola taught me Spencerian Script – the old way – and I wanted my words to look as beautiful as hers did. I can do that – sometimes – with practice, practice, practice.