Stop Teaching Cursive Writing in the Classroom

http://www.spectacle.org/298/auren.html ^

[Outlaw76]

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, once you reach adult life cursive becomes a rare sight indeed. I agree that it is becoming a lost art as we age, and that thier are better uses of that time. As an art cursive is a lowly form, I suggest instead that some time be used to teach kids how to read it, and the rest of that time be used to teach caligraphy. Caligraphy would help with both normal writing and script. It would also teach a discipline and apreciation for writing.

[RikaStrom]

This is Bull. Another lazy Gen-Xer, methinks. I was actually waiting for the author to say, stop teaching spelling, we have spell check.

Agreed.

[danneskjold]

I don't find cursive that hard to read or write...

[dasboot]

Wrong!

The goal is to equip the student to function well in all disciplines, including scribing free-hand. Typing is important; printing is important; quick, legable cursive is essential for note-taking. It's unlikely that any instructor could be heard in a lecture hall when thirty or more students are clupping away on their laptops. Not realistic.

I remember reading somewhere that development of a scripted writing is important in creating synapses that augment brain function. That aside, cursive is an essential, necessary tool for collecting data when there's no electricity or keyboards handy.

Along with the "ten minute pencil sketch", my students were required to render, in cursive, entire books (history, law, e.g.) in their cursive hand from my dictations. Skills developed were the ability to listen, cogitate, assemble then write the text legibly, quickly. Speed was increased over time. Spelling, syntax, and grammar were addressed as questions came up. They developed an organic sense of construction in addition to the cognitive.

I did not neglect typing, and block print and colligraphy was exercised.

The students, now in college, have a real leg-up because of the ability to take notes and sketch. Common sense.

[constitutiongirl]

Well stated, as usual. :)

[Rodney King]

Cursive is faster... no doubt about it. You don't have to keep picking up the writing instrument.

That does not seem to have anything to do with the fact that almost nobody uses it, whether it is faster or not.

[aomagrat]

After I joined the navy 20 years ago, they taught me how to print in big block letters.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Agree on calligraphy. I took a class years ago and immediately switched from cursive to italic printing, which I still use. It looks a lot better.

[dasboot]

Next time you have to wait in line , and you watch a clerk fill out paperwork while hamfistedly holding a pen, tongue twisted out to the side, nose to the paper 'cause he can't see what he's writing, taking five minutes to do what should take but 30 seconds, tell yourself that a good hand is unimportant.

An employer watching someone filling out a job application under the duress of the above-described disability would certainly think twice about hiring. Maybe it's covered under the ADA?

[Irma]

Plus, nothing beats a personal, hand-written (in cursive) letter for writing a thank you, love letter, or other important correspondence.

The goal is to equip the student to function well in all disciplines, including scribing free-hand.

As a former teacher for 22 years I was tempted to comment on this thread, but it seems the both of you have stated exactly what I was going to say!

Thank you!

[Michael_S]

If you are left handed and went to Catholic school (in the 50s with nuns) you almost always will have bad handwriting. The nuns did not believe anybody could or should be left handed. I have to print my checks to make sure the right amount is clear.

[american colleen]

Cursive is part of a classic education!

[Rodney King]

Next time you have to wait in line , and you watch a clerk fill out paperwork while hamfistedly holding a pen, tongue twisted out to the side, nose to the paper 'cause he can't see what he's writing, taking five minutes to do what should take but 30 seconds, tell yourself that a good hand is unimportant.

I never said that quality penmanship was not important. As for cursive, I have simply made the observation that nobody uses it once they leave seventh grade. You may want people to use it, but they don't.

An employer watching someone filling out a job application under the duress of the above-described disability would certainly think twice about hiring. Maybe it's covered under the ADA?

I have never seen a form that does not say "please print". Medical forms, school applications, job forms, etc.. they all say please print. I have never seen one that says "please use cursive".

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Thanks! A little ego stroke this morning (and needed too!)!!!

[Tazlo]

But I did read an article that stated that most males revert back to block printing once cursive is no longer required. According to this study, females don't.

Interesting. According to graphologists, connecting letters in cursive writing equates to the writer's ability / propensity to connect emotionally to other humans. A writer who prints is emotionally detached from others. Guess this is a difference between the sexes.

[blue jeans]

Nobody uses it? Hmm.... that's not what my personal experience has been.

With all due resepct, I still see it plenty and use it myself plenty (especially if I want to jot notes down as fast as I can and not have to lug my laptop around). [And that's coming from a guy that's using a computer 95% of the work day.]

I'll agree that block writing has an advantage or two, it's certainly more readable and most everyone can make a font that looks the same that way. But it ain't worth the time (unless of course one's cursive is really poor).

In fact, I think we'd all agree.... this thread ain't worth the time either.

[dasboot]

I'm taken aback buy the support of educational mediocrity I find on this thread--among conservative thinkers; however, the up-side is the ease with which one may train a child to be a standout among its peers, I suppose: yet my heart breaks for this.

[Aquinasfan]

I can write neatly if I take the time, but if I'm in a hurry, I've developed a block print (sort of like an architect print) to use. I think my writing trouble goes back to the fact that I was born left handed and forced to write with the right hand - but that's my childhood memory at work.

That's me to a T. My handwriting motto is, "use the minimum legibility to write as quickly as possible," except when addressing wedding invitations.

I have a long name, so my signature is indecipherable except for the initial letters. The thing is, it always looks the same, and I can write it (in "cursive" in this case because it's faster) in about a second. It would be very difficult to forge.

On the other hand, my wife writes her name very neatly in script (which would be easy to forge) which takes her about ten seconds, which seems like an eternity when I watch her sign a check.

[Irma]

Educational mediocrity is one reason I decided to retire early and pursue another career. ;^)