65,000 schoolgoers put pen to paper

14 May 2015

 

The nationwide schools’ competition challenged school children of all ages to test their handwriting skills. Over 65,000 children from all over Ireland met the challenge, making the handwriting competition a huge success. The competition also ran in secondary schools with special schools at both levels also taking part. The competition took a fresh look at the place of handwriting in modern life, with amazing results.

For adults and children alike new technology has dramatically changed how we communicate through writing.  From smart phones to tablets and keyboards of all sizes, children and young people are ‘at one’ with this type of communication, they embrace it and use it to create new language.

Despite this, tens of thousands of entries to the competition prove that teachers, parents and children understand the importance of clear and legible handwriting in education, working and everyday life. Technology is now moving toward this reality as many digital devices recognise handwriting using a write pad and stylus.

Congratulating the winners, their teachers and families at today’s national awards, An Post Chief Executive Donal Connell said: “Whether it’s jotting down a to-do list, writing a birthday card, taking down a phone message or filling out a form at the post office ….handwriting is a vital part of our daily lives. Supporting the skill of handwriting for school children is a great fit for An Post as we deliver 2.5million letters every day and very often a child’s first handwritten letter, their letter to Santa, is delivered by An Post. We also work to promote adult literacy and handwriting is a really important literacy skill for everyone.

Also on hand to present awards, Emma Dineen, President of INTO said: “This competition shows the art and skill of handwriting is flourishing in Ireland. INTO has a long association with the teaching of handwriting, our first President, Vere Foster, developed copy books to improve handwriting. This competition is a wonderful celebration of the work of children and their teachers.  The art of handwriting is something that is needed in all walks of life.  It’s great to see teachers and parents across the country encouraging their students and children to enter this competition and ultimately ensure they have good handwriting as they move into adult life.

The teaching of handwriting in schools is an experience we all remember, forming loops, sizing letters, getting the words in the right order and spaced out neatly.  For children handwriting remains a complex skill to learn, requiring linguistic, cognitive, perceptual and motor components. 

This process is taught in a gradual way by teachers and parents and the An Post/INTO Handwriting Competition aims to support and reward the efforts of everyone involved in promoting good penmanship at primary schools while recognising the practice of good handwriting among secondary school students, who will need this tool, literally at their fingertips in state exams.

Anpostschoolbag.ie is An Post’s online resource for primary and secondary schools with fun, learning activities across a variety of subjects, all linked to the curriculum.  The website is a primary source of content, with real life examples of Irish business and Irish life.

2015 Primary Winners

• Lianda McGuire, Senior Infants, Scoil na Mainistreach, Co Clare, Category 1 
• Cara Ruxton, 1st class, St. Peter's N.S., Dublin 7, Category 1
• Daniel Robinson, 4th class, Scoil Mhuire, Co Tipperary, Category 2
• Karl Negrillo, 5th class, St. Clare's Primary School, Dublin 6W, Category 3
• Evan Brazil, Phoenix Park Special School, Dublin 8, Special Category 
• Niamh Barry, St. John of God N.S., Waterford City, Special Category

Runners up

• Rory Hannigan, Junior Infants, St. Laurence's N.S., Co Kildare, Category 1 
• Rory Hannigan, Junior Infants, St. Laurence's N.S., Co Kildare, Category 1 
• Arthur Hearns, 1st class, Ballon N.S., Co Carlow, Category 1
• Rósín Carroll, 3rd class, St. Brigid's N.S., Co Wexford, Category 2
• Maeve Doherty, 6th class, Scoil Cholmcille, Co Donegal, Category 3

Secondary winners

• Abbie Daly, 1st year, Coláiste na Sceilge, Co Kerry, Category 1
• Laoise O'Brien, 5th year, St. Raphaela's Secondary School, Co Dublin, Category 2
• Evan Brazil, Phoenix Park Special School, Dublin 8, Special Category 
• Niamh Barry, St. John of God N.S., Waterford City, Special Category

Runners up

• Braden O'Donoghue, 2nd year, Clifden Community School, Co Galway, Category 1
• Maame Agyeiwaa, 5th year, Loreto College Swords, Co Dublin, Category 2