School Shuns Tech, Teaches Fountain Pen

I haven't really thought to look for years myself. I have too many ball point pens lying around and have more of a need for permanent markers (or a decent pencil) most of the time.

A quick check online finds: http://www.bizrate.com/pens/products__keyword--fountain+pens.html

Which appears to have some very reasonably priced disposable fountain pens available.

Perhaps it is not so much the use of the fountain pen, as it is the encouragement of taking the time to collect ones thoughts before transferring them to some other medium. A practice that is easier to engage in using an arguably simpler interface of actual writing.

Writing on a piece of paper, regardless of pen used, takes more effort than typing.

I would challenge that assertion by pointing out that both writing and typing require a good deal of practice to gain enough proficiency to no longer have to look at ones hands to see where they
are on paper or relative to the keyboard. I no longer have to look at the full sized keyboard I am using to type this reply, even when I make a spelling mistake I can move to correct it without looking down for the backspace or delete keys. But, when I try to transfer the same skill to the smaller keyboard on my (new) laptop, I invariably make mistakes that are harder to correct without looking down to find the correct placement for my hands.

A practiced writer of longhand script falls into the same pattern of use when taking up pen and paper, they do not have to worry about looking down to where they are on the paper, because after years of writing they have established automatic (subconscious) patterns of knowing what their relative position is to the top of the page, and they will, from habit, stop and move to the next page before the point of discomfort occurs. We have ergonomic keyboards now because the same problems of proper hand placement still exists beyond the writing pad.

The latter, no matter how "beautiful" it may be, is categorically inferior as a format for the exchange of information.

There is more to text-based communication, using pen, typewriter, or computer, than the simple exchange of information.

With lots of practice, yes, writing with a pen gets easier, but I still maintain that it can never be as easy or efficient as typing. It puts all the effort into one hand, and even requires arm movements. With typing, you spread out the effort between the two hands. It also doesn't require me to move my arm around. There's really no question about it; typing is simply faster.

There is more to text-based communication, using pen, typewriter, or computer, than the simple exchange of information.

Specifically, this was in the context of schoolwork. If you're making formal wedding invitations, by all means, write them with a fountain pen, or even calligraph them. You can even write a thank-you note in pen. But pens should be avoided for anything even remotely lengthy. I'm even going to go so far as to call it rude to hand write a letter. It's an unnecessary burden on your recipient. To write a letter in cursive, no matter how neat, is onerous.

Full disclosure: In school, my teachers had nothing but complaints about my handwriting. Every year I heard, "They're not going to take that next year." But they did. They always did. They also often strongly encouraged me to type, whenever possible. For the record, I absolutely love my handwriting.

I think the point of teaching hand-writing is not that it is the most efficient. Proper writing forces you to put more of your personality into your work and teaches you (among other things) that aesthetics are important.
Say whatever you want about the clarity and efficiency of typing, it's also impersonal. Writing something by hand remains a personal and even artistic form of expression.

Besides, all important businessmen here in Spain have fountain pens and often use them to write little personal notes to clients and especially to sign contracts.

It's all well and good to say you should only use them to sign, but if you don't know how to write to begin with, you're not terribly likely to look or feel comfortable using one.