The Cursive Curse

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The Cursive Curse

Topic Author: Rob Johnson

Posted: 9:22 AM May 30, 2008

Replies Posted: 12 comments

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The Cursive Curse

Do you ever write in cursive? Sure, you probably sign your name in cursive. That's normal. However, so many people write on a computer keyboard or send text messages from their phone that they don't write in long hand much any more. A teacher in my daughter's school posed an interesting question about this. Why do teacher spend so much time teaching cursive writing to students...and then watch most of them forget about it for the rest of their life. Lots of people write in print when they do write. The art of cursive writing is becoming a thing of the past. Should we keep teaching it in school? I can't read handwriting from most people when they do write in cursive...and I'm part of the problem here. My handwriting is too sloppy...I'm much better on a computer keyboard. This is hardly the most Earth-shattering challenge facing education today. However, if you devoted all the time currently used in teaching cursive writing to something like science, would that be bad?

Rob Johnson

Posted by: waynecountygirl Yes I think cursive handwriting is still important. Printing is time consuming, hard to do quickly, and nearly impossible to do in a classroom not teaking situation. If you need to take notes in a high school or college class, you need to write in cursive. I doubt one could keep up trying to print. Writing something down helps most people remember things. So it's a valuable skill. I don't think a student should be penalized for having poor handwriting in school. Some kids, no matter how they try, just can't do it. Handwriting is "drawing", and many people just can't draw. You referred to the "art of cursive writing", and it is just that. An art. I don't believe in giving a child a poor grade on content simply because their handwriting is poor. Will children of today use the skill like many of us? I doubt it. But, they need to know how to write. It kind of parallels the whole "well, I have a calculator so why do I need to divide" argument. Because you do.

Posted by: Teacher I am a teacher, and I was told by a former principal that she didn't care whether or not our students learned cursive because the only time anyone ever uses it anymore is to sign their name. I definitely do not agree. I think there will be times in both college and career that they will need to write rather than print. We are slacking too much with our children. They need to learn these things for the future. I write in cursive all the time, and am making sure my children are able to write also. If the school does not teach it, I will make sure they learn it.

Posted by: Debbie ADE if that's true you have to wonder about our doctors. Ever tried reading their writing?

Posted by: ADE There are some studies that link success with handwriting/cursive to reading fluency. It's one of those subjects that need more time in school, not less!

Posted by: Barbara Did you know the way you write is inherited.Our family is into family history and we were surprised to find out that my grandfather who i never knew,he died when dad was 11, writes just like my dad and one of my brothers. Interesting isn't it? I belive everyone should be able to write.Computer may go away someday and then how will anyone be able to communicate with anyone. My whole family are poor writers but at least we were taught.Enjoy you and John at noon news.

Posted by: Allie My handwriting isn't pretty but it is readable. As an adult I do type more and when I do write it is in print. I believe that it should be taught and the kids should know how to write in cursive. In fact some schools teach cursive before they teach the kids to print. I haven't figured out the logic in that but whatever. Maybe they need to cut out a lot of stuff that doesn't matter and teach the kids a little respect, manners and kindness.

Posted by: April I hardly ever write in print. Unless specified (like on an application) I write in cursive. I still send many handwritten cards to friends, family and neighbors. Now I think I'm beginning to understand why they all talk about how nice my handwriting is --they rarely ever see it anymore! I learned cursive in school and from my mother. My children learn in in school and I'm very happy about it. If they do veer from it I will teach it at home, I think it's important and beautiful if done well and is legible.

Posted by: elizstark Perhaps only written signatures should be taught in school. That's all that is used these days.

Posted by: Mrs. White If cursive handwriting is started earlier the students ability to master it is much higher and usually easier to read. In many private schools they teach cursive handwriting along with the alphbet. Many of the students have beautiful penmanship.

Posted by: shirl brewer HI THIS IS SHIRL BREWER, I HAVE NOT GOT MY EMAIL BUT 2 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS, IT DOES THIS ALOT DONT KNOW WHY.I WILL PUT MY EMAIL ADDRESS BACK IN BUT IT WILL COME BACK AND TELL ME I HAVE IT! I DONT UNDERSTRAND , COULD YOU PLEASE PUT IT BACK ON AND DONT LET IT GO OFF. PLEASE . SHIRL BREWER

Posted by: Sue I read an article recently in Good magazine that argued for not teaching handwriting at all. I don't agree with this premise as in certain aspects of our society, handwriting is needed. It is still considered good manners to handwrite a thank-you note. I am young and I consider a thank-you email to be rude. So maybe less time could be devoted to teaching cursive, but it should still be taught.

Posted by: Brandi My husband continued printing right along with his cursive lessons in elementary school. He writes in this immaculate tiny block printing. His cursive is beyond unreadable. There is always the joke about having handwriting like a doctor. The nurses would just hand the chart back to him if he was. The faster I write, the worse mine gets, but it's still cursive.