Page:Theory and Practice of Handwriting.djvu/41

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WRITING IN RELATION TO HYGIENE
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this question has already repeatedly been exhaustively discussed. It must however be said that the results of the latest researches in this field (the eminent work of the Oculist Dr. Schubert of Nuremberg is here referred to) speak without exception in favour of Vertical Writing.

The problem before the Commission consisted simply in this: to see in use the System of vertical writing introduced methodically by Herr Dr. Bayr into the institution under his charge and especially to observe its influence on the attitude of the children while writing.

In this connection it must be stated that the Members of the Commission have unanimously carried away the best impression of the correctness of attitude of the children who write the upright hand. By the arrangement made—the children on the desks on one side of the schoolroom writing the customary oblique style those in the desks opposite on the contrary the upright hand—the extraordinarily favourable impression which the attitude of the vertical writers made was rendered much more emphatic and important.

The aforesaid correct posture of body of those children who used vertical writing showed itself, without any influence whatever on the part of the superintending teacher, so characteristic and so constant that in a second class where children who wrote upright and those who wrote obliquely were grouped quite irregularly the members of the Commission were able even from a distance—and more easily upon a close view especially from behind—to distinguish the two groups one from another.

Further it was evident that also for rapidity of writing the children in some degree accustomed to Vertical Writing were in no way behind those who wrote obliquely.

It deserves special mention that the children use for vertical writing no specially made pens (as was stated in many quarters) but with the usual and customary instruments wrote a hand which was as pleasing as it was clear and legible. Specimens of it were submitted to the Commission.

It was remarkable that the Vertical writers showed a perma-