From: Marnen Laibow-Koser (marnen@marnen.org)
Date: Mon May 07 2007 - 10:39:02 CDT
On May 7, 2007, at 5:14 AM, Philippe Verdy wrote:
[...]
> Today, modern quills built in various metallic alloys are much more
> versatile and resistant than the famous "Sergent Major" quill which
> was so
> difficult to masterize by generations of French children (up to the
> 1960's).
> Cheap "Bic" ballpoint pens were finally accepted in primary
> schools, to
> avoid ink bottles on desktops, except for artistic courses on
> calligraphy.
> But using a quill, with internal disposable reservoirs, was still
> mandatory
> in many French highs schools for exams and home works up to the early
> 1980's.
Fascinating. I assume you are using "quill" to mean "fountain pen"
here? (Eng. "quill" only refers to the feather, although there's a
type of nib called a "crow quill" nib from its resemblance to the
feather.)
I got my good handwriting (such as it is) by writing almost
exclusively with a calligraphy pen for about a year when I was 16.
> Unlike in USA, crayons are not accepted here, except for arts and
> technical drawings.
Are you talking about pencils or wax crayons?
Best,
-- Marnen Laibow-Koser marnen@marnen.org
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