My experiences as a teacher have been varied and at different points of time i have felt elation, dejection or a sense of purpose depending on the circumstances. It is only when you see your efforts bearing fruit that you feel fulfilled. In the initial years, while teaching junior classes, drawing four lines on the black-board and using coloured chalk to emphasise the shape of alphabets was a normal routine. Children were more than willing to copy the letters demonstrated on the black-board. Imagine my surprise when i started teaching senior classes. The fragmented and disjointed handwriting samples came as a shock. It was a perfect reflection of their mental state. It showed a singular lack of continuity in the thought process. For me it was torturous to go through such sheets as to me they signified a lack of equilibrium. In Sheiling House we follow the Marion Richardson script in the primary section. Richardson's general theories on the development of young children were considered revolutionary during the 1920's and 1930's in the United Kingdom.Richardson noted that little children found the looped style with the required thick and thin strokes physically difficult to achieve. She later in her career suggested that young children should begin their writing patterns using chalks, thick soft pencils and crayons. The staccato movements were to be discouraged by providing younger children with large sheets of paper and encouraging them to incorporate 'rhythm and swing' in their writing and writing pattern activities.
Convincing parents and students about the advantages of a neat and legible handwriting is a difficult task today. The most alarming trend is the usage of ball point and gel pens. This also adds to plastic waste as most of these pens are thrown after using. The art of calligraphy is dying and people have stopped using fountain pens. For me using a fountain pen is like having an extension to my thoughts. They flow out as words on a sheet of paper.....smooth and succinct. I wonder if kids today will rediscover the pleasure of writing.