Page:Hill's manual of social and business forms.djvu/61

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attention to the study, from the time of commencement to the close.

Each pupil in the class should be provided with pen, ink, and a writing book. Practicing in the evening, each should be provided with a lamp, covered with a shade, throwing as strong light as possible on the writing.

For the writing book, use five sheets of best foolscap paper. Cut in two, midway from top to bottom of the sheet; put one half inside the other; cover with strong paper, and sew the whole together, the cover extending one inch above the writing paper.

How to Arrange Copies.

Slips are best for copies, as they slide down the paper and can be kept directly above the writing of the pupil while practicing. Twentyfour copies will be generally sufficient to occupy the time of most pupils during the term, and should be arranged to embrace all the princi- pies and exercises it is necessary for the student to understand in writing plain penmanship.

The copies may be written or printed. Written, if well executed; printed, if the teacher can obtain them, suitably arranged for the twelve-lesson term, as they are thus more perfect than written copies are likely to be, and save the teacher the drudgery of writing copies. If printed, the copy should be a fine, elegant lithographic fac simile of perfect penmanship; —perfect, because it takes the pupil no longer to learn to make a correct than an incorrect letter. Numbered in the order of their succession, from one to twenty-four, these slips should be wrapped together in a package, which should be pasted on the inside, at the top of the cover, whence they can be drawn as required by the student. When the copy is finished, the slip should be placed at the bottom of the package.

The wrapper, holding the copies, should be sufficiently firm and tight to prevent the copies falling from their places when the book is handled. If the copies are kept by the pupil free from wrinkles and blots, an advantage of this arrangement is, that when the book is written through the copies are yet carefully preserved in their place, when new writing paper may be added to the book and the copies used again by the same pupil or by others.

Another plan is, for the teacher to keep the copies and distribute the same at the commencement of the lesson among the members of the class, and collect them at the close. When the teacher is short of copies, this plan may be pursued, though the other is the most systematic, and is attended with the least labor.

The most advanced and rapid penmen of the class, who write out their copies before the close of the term, may be furnished with copies of various commercial forms, for practice, in the last of the term.

Should a second term of lessons be given, those students who attend it should review the copies of the first term for about six lessons, after which they may be drilled in the writing of commercial forms, business letters, compositions, etc., according to the capacity and advancement of the pupil.

The copy should always be ready before the class assembles. The teacher should never be compelled to write a copy while the school is in session, especially if the class be large.

Commencement of the School.

The teacher having arranged to give a course of lessons in writing, should open the school at the hour appointed, even if there be no more than one pupil in attendance at the time of commencement, and should conduct the term through, unless insurmountable obstacles prevent. If the school possesses real merit the class will steadily increase in size, until a hundred pupils may be in attendance, even though but a half dozen were in the class at the opening lesson.