Completely different country: because ballpoint pens not good for calligraphy. I'm still not sure why, but I heard this argument everytime.

Writing the same sentence with a fountain pen vs ballpoint, it looks much nicer with the fountain pen.

Fountain pens let you vary the width of the line depending on how much force is applied.

Unless you know you have a flexy nib, you shouldn't. Too much force can cause your tines to sproing, and then you need a new nib (or get a nibsmith to fix it, which might be more). Most of my pens have nibs that aren't designed for much line variation.

conservatism (in the form of : the kids would never learn how to write properly if they don't time their strokes with dipping the pen in the ink routine)

It is the same thinking as the "you need to start with C to become a good programmer".

They started with ink, it worked for them, so we obviously also had to.

For me it was even worse. My teachers argued that I must not use my Pelikan pen (all my classmates were on fountain pens) and write with pencil instead, because I was using to much force.

The most infuriating thing about it: I never saw a teacher using anything else than a regular pen. Strictly forbidden. Those were for grown ups.

My teachers argument was that fountain pens require more precise control of your writing force. If you start to learn with ballpoint it might mask some issues with your writing (mainly too much downforce) which can cause you problems later in life. (Such as fatique or cramps in your hand.)

I dunno, we started with the Berol handwriting pen which is basically a plastic tip. Your basic biro is not a good writing pen - they are difficult to control. The ink is thick and gloopy so it takes too much force to get going and then shoots off quickly. Modern ballpoints, from the likes of Mitsubishi and Pilot are inexpensive and much much better.