Simplified Handwriting for Today

Abstract

IN SPITE OF typewriters and telephones, hand writing continues to serve for convenient commu nication and record making. The older generation learned to write a flowing cursive hand by dint of persistent practice at school. From the early | 1920's when manuscript style writing was introI duced (a style similar to typing), school beginners ? learned these simple letter forms which could be used for expressive writing almost from the first lesson. Originally, the new style was presumed to be the pupil's permanent hand, with no suggestion that at midpoint in learning a changeover to cur sive style writing would be required. However, as the new style passed the experimental stage and became widely adopted by public school systems, a transition to cursive style writing was required in the later primary period, sometimes as early as the end of second grade. In the meanwhile, another change in writing usage was taking place. The business world with increasing frequency requested people to print important information in filling out application blanks and other documents.