• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
More than a few doctors, notorious for their illegible scribble, would do well to take Michael Daniel Fairley's advice about good handwriting.

Catholic school student wins national handwriting contest

June 10, 2002
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Local News, News, Schools

More than a few doctors, notorious for their illegible scribble, would do well to take Michael Daniel Fairley’s advice about good handwriting.

“First, you think of something and write it down — slowly,” explained the 7-year-old, who is a first grader at Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg.

“You don’t want to rush it,” he advised. “Taking your time is the most important thing.”

Michael is a young expert when it comes to impeccable penmanship. He has been named the national handwriting champion among first graders by Zaner-Bloser, an Ohio-based publisher of the handwriting textbooks used at Mother Seton School.

Competing against more than 110,000 children, Michael’s clear, perfectly spaced manuscript was judged to be the best in the nation among those in his age group.

First and second graders compete in the manuscript category. Second graders also can compete in the cursive category, which has a division for grades 2-4 and one for grades 5-8.

It’s no wonder Michael came out on top in his age group. He’s an old pro in the handwriting business.

“I started when I was 2,” he said. “It wasn’t exactly writing. I liked to draw little pictures. It was a lot of fun.”

He credits his parents, Richard and Catharine Fairley, along with teachers Mary Jo Burkell and Donna Gebhart, for showing him the finer points of perfect printing. His father is the headmaster at a Catholic high school in Frederick.

“They told me to practice,” Michael said. “I’m proud that I can do it.”

For the contest, Michael copied a required sentence and then wrote one of his own for the judges’ consideration. His personal sentence was a tribute to his 6-year-old brother, Ian.

“My little brother is my favorite person in the whole world,” the sentence read.

Richard Northup, vice president for the marketing division of Zaner-Bloser, said good handwriting is essential is today’s business world. A company press release noted that illegible handwriting costs American business $200 million annually, with 90 percent of U.S. business executives complaining about the poor handwriting of their employees.

Some 38 million illegibly addressed letters cost the U.S. postal service $4 million annually and hundreds of thousands of tax returns are delayed each year because figures, notes and signatures are illegible, according to the press release.

“To believe computers have eliminated the need for clear handwriting in business and daily life is a mistake,” Northup said. “Legible handwriting can ensure that you deliver your message clearly and project a positive image.”

Michael was awarded a $500 savings bond, a plaque and a pen set for his winning writing. His classmates at Mother Seton will each receive a National Handwriting Contest T-shirt. Michael also has been honored by his school and featured on a local television station.

His next big task is to learn cursive writing, a challenge he is taking in stride.

“In preschool, I started to learn a little cursive,” Michael said. “It’s a little harder, but you just have to practice.”

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Copyright © 2002 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Baltimore-area groups awarded $356,000 in CCHD grants, speak of togetherness

Anna’s Gift Foundation helps hope bloom for hospitalized children

Young adults from Archdiocese of Baltimore invited to experience local and international World Youth Day events

Archdiocese of Baltimore welcomes new school leaders

RADIO INTERVIEW: Camp St. Vincent

Latest World News

Health care workers denied religious exemption on vaccine win settlement

Stepping down: Experts draft proposed laws on status of a retired pope

Catholic prayers for peace interrupted after alleged assault on officer

Baltimore native Babe Ruth and former Oriole Brooks Robinson among winners in balloting for Catholic baseball all-star team

Overturning of Roe provides ‘chance to win fight for life,’ says top Knight

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Beating the claw machine
  • Baltimore-area groups awarded $356,000 in CCHD grants, speak of togetherness
  • Health care workers denied religious exemption on vaccine win settlement
  • Stepping down: Experts draft proposed laws on status of a retired pope
  • Catholic prayers for peace interrupted after alleged assault on officer
  • Baltimore native Babe Ruth and former Oriole Brooks Robinson among winners in balloting for Catholic baseball all-star team
  • Anna’s Gift Foundation helps hope bloom for hospitalized children
  • Young adults from Archdiocese of Baltimore invited to experience local and international World Youth Day events
  • Overturning of Roe provides ‘chance to win fight for life,’ says top Knight

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED