Substitute Reprimanded for Correcting Handwriting

I am a substitute teacher. Recently, I was criticized for trying to teach a fourth-grader how to hold his pencil correctly. His writing was illegible. The school’s vice principal bawled me out, saying I had no right to correct the student. What is your take on this? — Angry Teacher
Answer: It’s hard to imagine why you were corrected for trying to help a student improve his handwriting. It’s also hard to understand why your correcting the student would come to the attention of the administration, unless it was done in an inappropriate manner.
Of course, how a child holds a pencil can affect the legibility of his or her handwriting. Once a child has established a way to grip a pencil, it can be very difficult to change this habit without both concentrated practice over a period of time, as well as a willingness to change. Probably, the easiest way to facilitate this change is by using a pencil grip. It helps a child keep his or her fingers in the correct position.