My favourite teacher is one I never met!
My handwriting is very poor, although my literacy skills are normal.

I was constantly punished at school for writing untidily. I was obviously 'lazy' and 'not trying' because my written work was articulate but scruffy.

Back then, over 40 years ago, teachers could still hit kids and at primary school I was often slapped around for untidy work.

In those pre-comprehensive days, at 11 I went to the grammar school and my younger brothers to the secondary modern. The constant punishment for my untidy handwriting continued, although at least the spanking stopped.

Anyway... one day I was discussing school with my much younger brother, who mentioned that his teacher said that 'some people just aren't made for tidy handwriting.'

I thought, 'What a clever man! He's talking about people like ME! Wish he was MY teacher!'

At university a few years ago I was diagnosed with dyspraxia, confirming that the teachers who belittled me were wrong. I feel even more justified in despising them.

That secondary modern teacher, though, whose name I never even knew - he was clever enough to know that kids don't write untidily on purpose. I still respect HIM!
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 7:54, 3 replies)

OooH, I Know, Matron...

From primary school and onwards, I was ridiculed, caned, kicked out of some classes and mocked because I couldn't, not even to save my life, write in copper-plate. Most of my classes, you weren't allowed to use a ballpoint - it was a fountain or cartridge pen. But English Lit. - even those "tools of the devil" weren't allowed and it was nibs 'n' ink.

Cheers
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 13:19, closed)

Oooh yup, fountain pens.
We were told that one couldn't 'write' with anything else, as if 'writing' were a special process, different from merely 'expressing oneself on paper by forming words with an instrument by hand.' Or something.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Fri 18 Mar 2011, 13:59, closed)

You sound like a slacker

(erewhon, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 15:38, closed)