Thanks for all the responses about finger numbers.  It’s a tricky thing.  We all know that students sometimes rely on the finger numbers instead of learning the notes when we write them in.  On the other hand, finger numbers and hand positions help students learn to read distance and direction better, which makes for good sight readers.  I personally would rather have a transfer student who started young with fingering written in than one who knew the notes well but had bad fingering.  Their technique is better, and poor technique is harder to break than any other bad habit a transfer student might come with.

It’s good to have the feedback from all of you on this controversial subject.  Write in with any other concerns and I’ll post them for responses.