Key in to the future

Mar 1 2005 By Helen Logan Evening Gazette

Typing on a computer key board seems to be an integral part of most people's jobs these days.

Not only that, but many are also embracing new technology in their leisure time - tapping into the worldwide web and keeping in touch via email.

So a suggestion by Government advisers that all children should be taught to touch-type sounds to me like a sensible idea.

When I was at high school I already knew that I wanted to be a journalist so I was keen to take typing and shorthand lessons.

But because I was intending to study for more than seven O levels, I was not allowed to take a commerce course.

This was a ridiculous ruling as shorthand and typing were going to be vital tools of my intended trade, and even if I had had a change of mind when it came to my career, they would have still proved useful in the outside world.

Shorthand would also have been very beneficial for taking notes during lectures.

At the time the community school concept was just beginning and as a result my school started to run nightclasses and I signed up for typing.

Shorthand was not available and learning that had to come later when I did a pre-entry journalism course at Darlington tech.

The latest suggestion is that the youngsters should start to learn to touch-type at the same time as they are learning handwriting.

There are fears this could affect pupils' ability to write legibly.

And this may be justified.

For - as family, friends and colleagues will all testify - my hand writing is atrocious.

And I put its deterioration down to years of predominantly using a keyboard or scribbling notes in Teeline.