The Great Cursive Writing Debate: Lost Art Or Vital Skill?

[mitto]

Well let’s see. For one thing, cursive was taught in our schools spanning back 100, 150, maybe even 200 years? By dropping it, we render a new generation illiterate to all the cursive handwritten correspondence (letters, diaries, declarations etc) of many past generations, and not to mention important historic documents written in cursive. By dropping this in grade 3, what do we hope to teach them instead that would be of greater benefit?

 

But what worries me more than that are some (not all) “critical thinkers”, with a tunnel vison grasp of the world, who would rather do away with anything remotely considered not fitting into the new way of things for the sake of efficiency. What will be next in their cross hairs? All hand writing in general, arithmetic, poetry, music? Computers can write and calculate for us right?

 

Beware, because there are some who would rather free our education systems of the general arts in favour of vital skills training only needed to enable our children to work and get a job when they grow up.

 

It’s a slippery slope!

 

Maintaining a well rounded education system is important, and cursive fits in there as part of that because of it's history.

Where do you live, man? The general arts are almost gone by now. It is as you say only the skills trainings that are needed for securing jobs. And what jobs? Mostly computer related.

[Orthostylos]

So are we saying that the purpose of school curriculum is to feed military/Industrial/service machine, and arts, music, critical thinking, or an "examined life" are wasted resources?

[TSherbs]

I once wrote a short (essentially a greeting, two sentences, a closing and signature) letter with a black 'grease pencil' on a bit of brown wrapping paper, but it certainly wasn't a love letter although it was to a (then suddenly former) girlfriend. I was in Vietnam, in the bush, where I had been for 9 months, and not well pleased with her letter telling how terrible her life was since her mum and dad didn't like her 'new boyfriend' she'd recently met at Uni.

 

now that is how to compress an intriguing story into a powerful synopsis

[ParramattaPaul]

Where do you live, man? The general arts are almost gone by now. It is as you say only the skills trainings that are needed for securing jobs. And what jobs? Mostly computer related.

 

There is much more to life, and more important things, than securing and even have a job. Work is a means to an end and called a 'vocation'. The end to which work is a means - is and always will be - the enjoyment of one's life and the enrichment of life.

[max dog]

Where do you live, man? The general arts are almost gone by now. It is as you say only the skills trainings that are needed for securing jobs. And what jobs? Mostly computer related.

Whats the point of learning to read if there's nothing worth reading like a Shakespeare sonnet written in beautful cursive.

 

All those high tech jobs help to create nice high definition TVs. But without those fine arts to inspire creativity in our kids, eventually there would be nothing worth watching on those high definition TVs rendering your high tech jobs meaningless. It would be a truly sad place with out the arts.

[max dog]

 

 

Unfortunately knowing how to read cursive isn't going to be able to help you read the original Declaration of Independence these days:

 

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/images/declarationscanbig.jpg

 

Improper preservation and copying techniques are a far greater threat to documents than the inability to know how to read the handwriting they are written in. The latter can be remedied if an individual is interested enough to learn how to read it, but there is a point of no return of the former, and the Declaration of Independence has arrived at that point.

There were lots of copies made in beautful cursive over the decades for generations to appreciate this magnificent document.

I believe there is a legible 2nd copy somewhere under guard.

[ParkerDuofold]

AYKM?

 

Have you guys received printed love letters? I can't imagine anyone turning their nose up at a love letter written in anything. Even crayon or finger paint. God wrote to Moses on stone, and I doubt the tool of choice was a flex nib. I'll take a love letter written with a toe in the sand over something in Spencerian on fancy paper, any day.

Hi TS,

 

The point is, a love letter is special. It should convey that message to the recipient... it should be written in such a way to express just how special and how unique that person is to you... and how very much you want them to be an integral part of your life.

 

It should show you've made a special effort because the recipient is worth a special effort.

 

Naturally, love letters do come in all shapes and sizes through the course of a relationship... and there is nothing wrong with a heartfelt "nuzzle or snuggle" on an impromptu slip of notebook paper, beach sand or wax paper- dashed off while under enemy fire... but "proper" love letters should be presented like a fine wine.

 

Be well and enjoy life.

 

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

There is much more to life, and more important things, than securing and even have a job. Work is a means to an end and called a 'vocation'. The end to which work is a means - is and always will be - the enjoyment of one's life and the enrichment of life.

+1

 

 

- Anthony

[jnd]

Timothy Matlack's cursive (above) is a beautiful thing. So is the business cursive of the Palmer. For me, the utility of a formal and stylistic cursive is apparent when I have to write a formal thank you note or a moving letter. Type just cannot beat the ability of sweet cursive to move the reader, if not for its sheer elegance than for the language that results. I completely agree with the previous post about hand-mind coordination producing better writing. There is more thought, more art, behind handwritten language. Concentration on means of expression is concomitant with that of word selection.

[ParkerDuofold]

Whats the point of learning to read if there's nothing worth reading like a Shakespeare sonnet written in beautful cursive.

 

All those high tech jobs help to create nice high definition TVs. But without those fine arts to inspire creativity in our kids, eventually there would be nothing worth watching on those high definition TVs rendering your high tech jobs meaningless. It would be a truly sad place with out the arts.

+1.

 

- Anthony

 

 

P.S.: Boy, this thread is definitely showing us who are the cynical realists and who are the optimistic romantics.

 

[TSherbs]

There were lots of copies made in beautful cursive over the decades for generations to appreciate this magnificent document.

I believe there is a legible 2nd copy somewhere under guard.

 

There are no surviving original copies of the Bible or many other old and very important documents. We seem to be doing well, regardless. Some even take translations of these works literally. I think that the emphasis on the actual handwritten original copy of this document is over-valued for the security of our republic.

[TSherbs]

Hi TS,

 

The point is, a love letter is special. It should convey that message to the recipient... it should be written in such a way to express just how special and how unique that person is to you... and how very much you want them to be an integral part of your life.

 

It should show you've made a special effort because the recipient is worth a special effort.

 

Naturally, love letters do come in all shapes and sizes through the course of a relationship... and there is nothing wrong with a heartfelt "nuzzle or snuggle" on an impromptu slip of notebook paper, beach sand or wax paper- dashed off while under enemy fire... but "proper" love letters should be presented like a fine wine.

 

Be well and enjoy life.

 

 

- Anthony

 

"fine" wine?

 

It's hard to balance a glass of wine in a bar watching the Celtics with my fiance in 1986, and the love poems I have written on cocktail napkins were not in formal cursive.

 

More seriously, to change e.e. cummings' love poems into cursive (it repulses me even to write that) from the type face in his books is a crime against his art. I think that your insistence that the connected writing of cursive is a more legitimate application of effort and authenticity of caring in love is misplaced.

 

If by "proper love letter" you mean something presented with white gloves and polished shoes, well, ok. And if by "nuzzle" you are referring euphemistically to a good roll in the mud, I agree. But if your fancy letter results only in a "proper handshake" and nod of the head, I am not sure that I would call it a very effective love letter.

 

The best love letter is the one written on your skin. Whatever script he/she uses. Who would possibly care? This is my point.

[TSherbs]

Whats the point of learning to read if there's nothing worth reading like a Shakespeare sonnet written in beautful cursive.

 

I teach poetry, but I still would never make this claim. Is this a serious question?

[ParkerDuofold]

"fine" wine?

 

It's hard to balance a glass of wine in a bar watching the Celtics with my fiance in 1986, and the love poems I have written on cocktail napkins were not in formal cursive.

 

More seriously, to change e.e. cummings' love poems into cursive (it repulses me even to write that) from the type face in his books is a crime against his art. I think that your insistence that the connected writing of cursive is a more legitimate application of effort and authenticity of caring in love is misplaced.

 

If by "proper love letter" you mean something presented with white gloves and polished shoes, well, ok. And if by "nuzzle" you are referring euphemistically to a good roll in the mud, I agree. But if your fancy letter results only in a "proper handshake" and nod of the head, I am not sure that I would call it a very effective love letter.

 

The best love letter is the one written on your skin. Whatever script he/she uses. Who would possibly care? This is my point.

Hi TS,

 

Well... we just pursue our love interests from different perspectives... and never the twain shall meet... let's just be satisfied that we both found women who loved us.

 

Be well and enjoy life.

 

 

- Anthony

[max dog]

 

I teach poetry, but I still would never make this claim. Is this a serious question?

You take things too seriously.

Certainly one needs to be able to read the prescription on a medication or read the instructions on how to assemble an IKEA night stand for example, but it certainly won't bring much satisfaction if that's all there is to read. If you teach poetry, I would hope you could appreciate the value of poetry and how it could enrich someones life and has an equal standing as math, physics or computer programming.

[max dog]

Just to put this thread back on track, here are some more studies supporting the benefits of cursive.

They say adults when they reach a certain age is impossible to change their firm held beliefs, so it's probably all moot anyways, but for some of the audience with an open mind:

 

Biological and Psychology Benefits of Learning Cursive

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201308/biological-and-psychology-benefits-learning-cursive

 

What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?mcubz=0

Edited September 8, 2017 by max dog

[max dog]

Another one

How cursive can help students with dyslexia connect the dots

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/connecting-dots-role-cursive-dyslexia-therapy/

[max dog]

Here is another article. In this one the author is not clear about whether cursive is better than any other forms of hand writing, but cites studies that show definitively hand writing has benefits over typing for retaining and understanding the information longer and better.

 

Cursive Becoming Obsolete?

http://www.scilearn.com/blog/is-cursive-handwriting-still-important

[max dog]

... but "proper" love letters should be presented like a fine wine.

 

Be well and enjoy life.

 

 

- Anthony

+1 Absolutely, if someone is very special to you.

Edited September 8, 2017 by max dog

[max dog]

In this exchange between two professionals discussing the pros and cons of cursive in the modern school curriculum, when Jan (supporter of cursive) references studies that show children remember more accurately and fully content that was hand written than content they typed, Morgan (non supporter of cursive) is unable to counter that argument. His argument is that people rely on keyboarding and computing more than cursive, so it is not worth teaching in schools.

 

NBC Nightly news Sept 08: Pros and cons of cursive in 21st century curriculum

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/pros-and-cons-of-cursive-in-21st-century-curriculum-47244355518

Edited September 8, 2017 by max dog