Fountain Pens Banned...

[Toolan]

From todays Daily Mail:

 

The headmaster of a top independent school has banned his pupils from using fountain pens - after claiming they could 'hamper' their chances of getting good exam results.

 

Jack Williams, 37, sent a letter to all parents warning that using fountain pens while sitting GCSE exams might make their papers more difficult to mark

 

... more...

 

Fountain Pens Banned

 

Lord help us !

 

Toolan

[rogerb]

This is, IMO, a typical Daily Mail 'non-story'.

 

The head has advised pupils not to use FPs in exams, due to the use of scanners in marking which could prejudice their chances.

 

He admits to preferring a FP himself, but is simply being realistic and pragmatic.

[ExcaliburZ]

A later quote "Banning fountain pens is against all my principles but I'm told scanners pick up biro much more easily than fountain pen. I just don't want pupils to be disadvantaged when they sit exams and I want them to use biros as much as possible. " This is a non-issue.

[DavidHandmade]

That sounds a little Draconian, but there's reasoning behind it, according to the Article:

 

"Bubble" scanners may not be able to pick up the FP Ink used to select Answers on standardized exams.

 

That's why a #2 Pencil is usually required for those types of exams (here in the US, at least).

 

I'm sure that the students will continue to use FPs in most other situations, if that's been acceptable up to now...

[EMM]

The students might find it difficult to use fps on the test paper or the graders will have a harder time grading? I'm not sure I understand this : (

[Markk]

Well, at least they warned the students very explicitly.

[Mille]

March on Washington?

[2Hearts]

It makes sense to have them use ballpoints on electronically marked exams. I have to use those exam sheets for multiple choice questions and you have to give a good deep mark-off. I use pencil or a black Bic for them. They make it sound like they can't use FP's full-stop, which sounds ridiculous. It's fair enough to not use them in exams though

[OldGriz]

March on Washington?

 

Washington moved to the UK ?????? READ THE STORY and name of the paper it came from...

[Northwoods]

I can't believe that a ballpoint would make a mark easier to scan that a fountain pen, unless the ink is an issue. I find ballpoint pens skip more, can create problems distinguishing between periods and commas and can result is periods (decimal points) being unseen, if not deliberately marked.

 

If they're loaded up with something pale like a Lamy Blue, the scanners will possibly miss bits. Loading up with a solid black ink for exams should resolve any problems.

[Felix1]

Appears it was a non-issue. Fountain pens prohibited for a very narrow and explicit set of circumstances,...and it makes sense to me for ease of test paper electronic scanning.

[Fuddlestack]

March on Washington?

 

Washington moved to the UK ?????? READ THE STORY and name of the paper it came from...

 

Actually, it went the other way. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_Tyne_and_Wear

Edited October 11, 2010 by Fuddlestack

[jar]

I remember many tests where we had to use a #2 pencil.

[Mille]

March on Washington?

 

Washington moved to the UK ?????? READ THE STORY and name of the paper it came from...

 

A petition to the Queen then?

Edited October 11, 2010 by Mille

[riff raff]

I remember many tests where we had to use a #2 pencil.

"Please get out your #2 machine-scoring pencil..." :roflmho:

[hardyoyo]

Weird. Who uses a pen for a standardized test? We only ever use #2 pencils in the US, as far as I know. And Sharpie's at the ballot box. Requiring a pen for a test seems cruel.

[sirksael]

March on Washington?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/headsmack.gif

Washington moved to the UK ?????? READ THE STORY and name of the paper it came from...

 

A petition to the Queen then?

 

That might be a good idea, apparently she does get bored from time to time.

[jniforat]

just use a number 2.

[FrankB]

I have read another version of this story on Pentrace. As I read the newspaper articles, I get the impression a specific circumstance led to the banning of FP's altogether. If that is indeed the case, I think it is horrid. If #2 lead pencils are required for exams, why not ban all pens? One ban makes as much sense as the other. Warning the kids and parents that BP's are required for the exam and having the students familiarize with them is one thing. But a general FP ban is absurd.

 

Am I wrong? Did I read the articles incorrectly?

[Johnny Appleseed]

Actually, I think the headmaster is banning students from using fountain pens in preparation for the GSCEs. If you read further down, he states that there are problems that arise from students using ballpoints - particularly that a lot of decimal points were not picked up by the scanners - so he wants the students to be familiar with ballpoints and know how to use them.

 

From the article:

"'Banning fountain pens is against all my principles but I'm told scanners pick up biro much more easily than fountain pen."

 

and:

"'I just want to make sure my pupils have the best chance to succeed. If they get to the exams and they say use the black biro and they've not used them before they can struggle.

 

'In sport or any other walk of life, you practice how you play, in this case you play in the exams so you practice how to do it.'

 

'I haven't got a choice because of the way exams are processed. I think they should be looking at their technology.'

 

Mr Williams - who was promoted to headmaster from deputy four months ago - has restricted the ban to pupils over 12-years-old as they begin studying towards their GCSEs."

 

Another interesting tidbit -

 

"The edict comes after the £8,250 a year Hillcrest Grammar and Preparatory School in Stockport, Greater Manchester - where former pupils included ex-Blue Peter presenter Yvette Fielding and ex-Manchester City footballer Nicky Summerbee - had a rule insisting pupils could only use fountain pens."

 

So previously they had banned biros. One would guess they will still use fountain pens exclusively with the pupils under 12.

 

 

John

Edited October 11, 2010 by Johnny Appleseed