Death of Cursive Writing.

This has been addressed before, but once again the issue is addressed.

No need for cursive writing anymore?

http://responsibilit...78_CursiveSaved

Teacher tries to encourage cursive writing by awarding fountain pens to students.

http://www.kentucky....-stressing.html

Excerpts:

Thanks to computers, email, texting, and tweeting, the writing’s been on the wall for cursive for years. According to Kentucky’s Lexington Herald Leader, a local high school teacher who recently tried to reinvigorate it by awarding fountain pens to students said, “Some of them didn’t know what a fountain pen was.”

Supporters of cursive say there is a societal responsibility to keep it alive, and that much more than penmanship is at stake. It’s “a gift” said one university professor, a lifelong skill, the demise of which creates cultural deficits, like an inability to read historical documents. Without learning handwriting — with its slower, contemplative pace — children’s brains will “develop in a different way that no one has really thought through,” said a neuroplasticity expert.

But others say there is zero need to save a communication form which fails to prepare students for a practical future. “Do people need to be able to write? Of course,” said one online commenter, who continued, “Is cursive the best method? Probably not, given how few people use it on a daily basis.” “Teach your kid to type accurately and quickly,” one insisted, while another suggested, “Kids should be taught how to print, because it’s all they’ll ever need if they find themselves without a cell phone to text on, or a keyboard to type with.”




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Roger Guffey, who teaches at Lafayette High School, has been bemoaning the decline in the use and appreciation of cursive writing. So, he recently had students in his four studies-skills classes polish up their penmanship by holding a cursive writing contest.

The best writers got blue ribbons; the best of the best each got a new fountain pen.

"Some of them didn't know what a fountain pen was," Guffey quipped.

That alone could be a symptom of cursive writing's decline. On those rare occasions today when we do pick up a pen, the emphasis is on speed, not style. So, a cheap ballpoint will do.

E-mail and text messaging are today's preferred forms of communication. Indeed, it's possible to go for weeks without writing anything in cursive.

Educators say generally that time devoted to penmanship in today's classrooms is shrinking

Regards

david

I saw this article about 3 months ago and alerted the IAMPETH group, along with the Southern California Calligraphy Society.

Crying shame! I actually know teachers that cannot read cursive writing.

Thank you David for refreshing this distressing situation.

Greg Minuskin

It is distressing! I was just talking about this with some colleagues at school today.
Handwriting is officially removed from the NJ CCCS (Content Standards) next school year!

Frank

Officially removed? Wow, that is so sad Frank! Was there no appeal process, no "discussion" or a vote by faculty, just done, no rebuttal?

Greg Minuskin

Hey Greg!

Yes, This topic was debated on all sides (Especially in newspaper editorials), but the "powers that be" in Trenton decided that this was the best solution. I hear this mandate is becoming common around the country.
The kids just want to print- moreover, they only want to type work/assignments on computers!
The education system just seems to be settling into the apathy.

Frank

That's profoundly depressing on so many levels.

I guess it is just society as a whole moving away from paper and ink based information collection to one of bits and bytes. I use cursive but mainly when I write letters. My daily use of information requires either block letters or a keyboard. It may be sad that cursive is no longer being taught but to be honest I would rather teachers focus on logic, math, English and history. It seems to me the ability to create a thought and transmit it to another person is much more important than the medium it is sent in.

I guess it is just society as a whole moving away from paper and ink based information collection to one of bits and bytes. I use cursive but mainly when I write letters. My daily use of information requires either block letters or a keyboard. It may be sad that cursive is no longer being taught but to be honest I would rather teachers focus on logic, math, English and history. It seems to me the ability to create a thought and transmit it to another person is much more important than the medium it is sent in.

As a whole what you say is correct, but like everything there are compelling reasons for the "old fashioned basics" to be continue to be embraced. Your last sentences highlights a growing problem in education worldwide... that being an in ability to "transmit" in a fashion that is comprehensible...having ideas etc. is a wonderful thing but if you don't have the basic language skills it really amounts to "not much". The basics of writing and reading are cornerstones of learning and writing, whether it be cursive or otherwise, is an essential tool for living in the "real" world for all people especially those that are unable to achieve high levels of education ( whether it be an intellectual disability or some other reason) that place the "computer era" in a taxing area. Like most things learning a process such as "cursive writing" actually has benefits beyond just writing, even as simple as improving hand eye coordination . A lot of "modern educators" are actually ignorant, uneducated, ideologically driven fools ....a sense of correctness restrains me from a more appropriate description

Regards
Hugh

I guess it is just society as a whole moving away from paper and ink based information collection to one of bits and bytes. I use cursive but mainly when I write letters. My daily use of information requires either block letters or a keyboard. It may be sad that cursive is no longer being taught but to be honest I would rather teachers focus on logic, math, English and history. It seems to me the ability to create a thought and transmit it to another person is much more important than the medium it is sent in.

As a whole what you say is correct, but like everything there are compelling reasons for the "old fashioned basics" to be continue to be embraced. Your last sentences highlights a growing problem in education worldwide... that being an in ability to "transmit" in a fashion that is comprehensible...having ideas etc. is a wonderful thing but if you don't have the basic language skills it really amounts to "not much". The basics of writing and reading are cornerstones of learning and writing, whether it be cursive or otherwise, is an essential tool for living in the "real" world for all people especially those that are unable to achieve high levels of education ( whether it be an intellectual disability or some other reason) that place the "computer era" in a taxing area. Like most things learning a process such as "cursive writing" actually has benefits beyond just writing, even as simple as improving hand eye coordination . A lot of "modern educators" are actually ignorant, uneducated, ideologically driven fools ....a sense of correctness restrains me from a more appropriate description

Regards
Hugh

You know Hugh, I received an email from a new young client yesterday, and it was like a cyphered message! The vowels were gone and even the signature of the kids name was his Avatar or something; he said he goes by "Slayer" in emails.

Who wants to deal with a new client named Slayer?

Greg Minuskin
www.gregminuskin.com

Slayer???

What I don't understand is, why can't they still teach penmanship *AND* things like English, history, math, etc? They used to. When I was a kid I learned all of that stuff. So many things just falling by the wayside.

Slayer???

What I don't understand is, why can't they still teach penmanship *AND* things like English, history, math, etc? They used to. When I was a kid I learned all of that stuff. So many things just falling by the wayside.

Limited hours in the day. Evolving priorities.

I don't defend. Merely observe.

regards

david

A lot of "modern educators" are actually ignorant, uneducated, ideologically driven fools ....a sense of correctness restrains me from a more appropriate description

Regards
Hugh

My God!! They found out the truth about me!!
Blame the educatio system here, not the educators!
Frank

A lot of "modern educators" are actually ignorant, uneducated, ideologically driven fools ....a sense of correctness restrains me from a more appropriate description

Regards
Hugh

My God!! They found out the truth about me!!
Blame the educatio system here, not the educators!
Frank

Hi Frank,

Definitely NOT the people at "the coal face"...my wife is a teacher and like most she puts the "hard yards" in....a case of poor wording not reflecting exactly who I wanted to blame...those that "design" the education that's delivered ..not those actually having to deliver it. I do apologize for somewhat lax wording .

Regards
Hugh

About a year ago I had heard that many of the high school graduating classes were never taught cursive and thought it was just an urban legend, but I too became aware of the loss of cursive instruction from a couple of other articles I stumbled upon.

Cursive loss is greater than just the skill. It's also about contemplative thought, expressing one's self, and having the consideration and care of writing a letter to someone. I think it can be about yourself too; deconstructing daily complications and slowing life down enough to focus on personal ideas and assessments.

I have a cheap Noodler's Flex that will become my 7 year old grandson's this summer when he sits with me to learn cursive handwriting.

Best to all,
M.