We had those large pencils at my school for the very young. Now that I think of it, those pencils are what they often recommend for the elderly who have arthritis. I also ordered the "fat" crayons for the kindergartners. Originally I had the large crayons for 1st graders but as time went on they insisted they have the small ones to appear more adult. I capitulated to the teachers' requests but they soon realized the thin crayons would break easily as the kids put pressure on them inappropriately. I had to order three times the number of thin crayons as thick, and the cost was more than you'd expect.
As to the script style losing it's place, I often think of the exquisite letters sent back home from the soldiers on the Civil War battlegrounds. As difficult as it was then using dip pens or even quills, the beauty of the text is delightful. Even the lesser educated of the troops was still able to compose delightful prose executed with impressive skill.
Below is a link to a forum thread that is interesting to parse if you are the least bit intrigued by the script styles of the Civil War era.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-...g-styles.75834/A few quotes from the discussion that I found pertinent :
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It sure does take practice but, if you stop before you get writer's cramps and add little by little to the time, it is enjoyable. Plus, everybody wants to see soldiers write orders and reports. It won't hurt for kids to get interested in writing as it isn't taught as the computer is taking over. Kids and older kids and even big kids aka adults love a challenge, especially when it adds to an impression. It isn't easy in the beginning but once you get the hang of it--its easy and wonder what the big fuss was about.
Remember though, in the early 1800's--nobody printed. That was for books. Everybody started writing and from middle grade throughout their life--write, write--write. After freedom away from teachers then people went and added their own personal flourishes to it.
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Being a student myself--usually there is a film of oil on dip pen nibs to prevent rust. Could be hand oil too. Squirt Windex or some glass cleaner with ammonia and wipe it off with a paper towel or toilet tissue. That big dollop of ink could be due to angle also. Quills (feather) are hollow like a straw so its gravity feed and like hand under water, angle regulates the flow. Could be ink problems too. Fountain pen ink is more watery than dip pen ink and runs faster off the nib. Uncapping the bottled fountain pen ink to allow it to evaporate some may be of help. Anyway--Ms. Weyraugh has worked with left handers before and she stresses that such writers must be extremely light in their up strokes as they are going against the grain per se.
Paper also matters. Staples Eco Friendly sugar cane paper is a Left Handed person's best friend as it lacks the fibers in normal writing pads and cotton rag content. Until getting the 'knack' of caressing paper with a sharp as a razor nib as you write, its smooth surface is writing on glass and don't run into the snags.
Addendum: I taught Calligraphy to my 5th and 6th graders using the dip pens and special tips. The kids seemed to find it fascinating though doubted whether they would ever use the skill. A few years after I retired I got an email from a former student who thanked me for the experience. Seems he had no idea what to get as gift for his mother's birthday, remembered his old art class, bought a pen set and ink, practiced for some time and produced an illustrated poem in Old English. His mom broke down and cried when he gave it to her.
