Should I hate cursive?

[Henrik]

Just stumbled across this badge while surfing. Hmm. At first it made me laugh - what a funny idea. :roflmho:

 

The accompanying text reads: You know you screamed it as a kid, and maybe you still do... I HATE CURSIVE!

Now wear this 1.25" button with pride, featuring a classic school yellow pencil and the words "i hate cursive" in that dreaded follow-the-arrows cursive that they made you copy.

 

Then, I realised that, there might be a handwriting war on out there. I mean, cursive in my understanding is just joined writing, why should anyone hate that?

 

Personally I like what is called “cursive” (here in Denmark) for it’s artistic potential and lovely rhythm I find a carefully executed cursive perfectly readable. I feel the same way about Italic. I can’t see one excludes the other - but back to my question:

 

Do we have a handwriting quarrel somewhere in cyberspace or in the real world? Italic vs. Cursive? And if so, why?

 

Regards Henrik

 

[Pink Ink]

Personally, I look at that and think, No, I never really was a fan of D’Nealian. I am biased though, having been taught Zaner-Bloser and being used to seeing Palmer from the adults around me when I was a kid.

 

Cursive will always be harder to read than print. But I also think, that once cursive is mastered, it will always be easier to write than print. (And some cursive scripts are more efficient than others.) I think handwriting is one of those chicken/egg problems. If they can’t read it, they won’t want to practice writing it. But if they don’t practice writing it, they won’t get better at reading it.

 

I think, a lot of antagonism towards cursive is due to bad teaching. Lefties forced to write with their right. Teachers relying on arrowed letters wondering why kids don’t automagically “get it” when, duh, kids need guidance on how to move their arms and fingers and time to practice.

 

Or strict adherence to a system with no room for individuality. If you go through the books on business penmanship — yes, this is what american kids were taught for almost a century — at IAMPETH’s collection, you’ll see what I mean. It was not a good time for children who didn’t like being micro-managed. And while yardstick yielding nuns teaching Palmer is a good joke, truth is, when Palmer was in vogue, lots of teachers yielded those yardsticks. And on top of all the bad teaching, kids get a letter grade in penmanship. For a kid who’s good at math, reading and spelling, getting a C, D or F in penmanship is, if not devastating, confusing at best.

 

Yeah, learning cursive has been kinda traumatic for lots of kids. Personally, my advice for parents and teachers is: Zaner-Bloser vs D’Nealian vs Peterson vs Handwriting without Tears vs Getty Dubay. Unless your child has developmental problems, they’ll do fine no matter what you choose. Pick one, stick with it, be prepared to allow for individual differences no matter what you choose. The end goal should be legible writing, not carbon copy handwriting.

Edited December 27, 2008 by Pink Ink

[henrico]

The end goal should be legible writing, not carbon copy handwriting.

 

Right on........handwriting is an art form, your own personal script for communicating. No one should be taught to copy art so why would teachers insist on rigid adherence to a particular script.

 

Totally against my grain...................

 

Henrico

 

[Henrik]

Sorry, I didn’t realise that”cursive” had such a bad flavour in the US - for some at least.

 

Quote:

“If they can’t read it, they won’t want to practice writing it. But if they don’t practice writing it, they won’t get better at reading it.I agree – my conclusion is that we need to educate children in handwriting even if they don’t want to. I mean, children usually hate what they are being taught – especially if it is difficult. Education doesn’t always make sense in their current situation. But it is necessary. “

 

Quote:

“Right on........handwriting is an art form, your own personal script for communicating. No one should be taught to copy art so why would teachers insist on rigid adherence to a particular script.

 

Totally against my grain...................”

Just to clarify: to me handwriting is not an art form, calligraphy is. Handwriting is for communication.

 

Then the problem of teaching: with 25 children in a class – you have to choose one script they will have to learn, by copying it repeatedly. It is impossible to have two or more scripts or personal varieties in a classroom if the teacher is to be the model help everyone etc.

At the end, everyone will eventually end up with their personal script. Hopefully, it has so much in common with the model script, that it can be read.

 

I’m not sure where this is taking us – I just posted this because I was a bit surprised that some one out there thought it was a good idea to introduce hate as an argument.

 

Best wishes for 2009

Henrik

 

 

[aNONIEmous]

The end goal should be legible writing, not carbon copy handwriting.

 

Right on........handwriting is an art form, your own personal script for communicating. No one should be taught to copy art so why would teachers insist on rigid adherence to a particular script.

 

Totally against my grain...................

 

Henrico

 

 

http://images48.fotki.com/v1408/photos/3/31573/211946/giggle-vi.gif Before even looking to see the author of that last comment, I knew it was you henrico, a rebel after my own heart.

 

I too suspect it is the tall order to write exactly as the teacher taught that made cursive such a nightmare to most. Thankfully, I didn't attend any of those classes so I actually find cursive very appealing.

Edited December 30, 2008 by aNONIEmous

[henrico]

Well Henrik, on one hand you state that cursive and italic has artistic potential and further on you state that handwriting is not an art form but calligraphy is........

 

hhhmmmnnn :blink:

 

If there is an art form in this world that is common to all, it is our handwriting....it is our trademark, recognizable everywhere, everytime one uses it. So, it's obvious that in early school, students will resent remarks that their writing is not by the book because even students understand their own individuality. Well, teachers should know this and should stop hitting kids on the head(like they used to) for not performing in accordance with the book. Writing is not like math or science. There are no clear equations in writing............

 

Not sure where the "hate" is in this discussion but I do see some strong opinions but not so strong as to be "war". :hmm1:

 

Henrico

Edited December 31, 2008 by henrico

[blackranger63]

I like cursive. Been practicing and might post a sample one of these days. It's really easy thought with my Pilot 78G. I did all my Christmas and gift cards with it and got lots of "wow" from family and friends. Gotta love the B Stub ;-)

[jmkeuning]

If you are going to write out that you hate cursive, why do you write the message in cursive?

 

It seems like print might be the better option.

[elmer42]

I believe the irony is what makes it funny. A button like this written in print would be considered hateful, but write it in cursive and it's pure comedic gold .

[aNONIEmous]

I believe the irony is what makes it funny. A button like this written in print would be considered hateful, but write it in cursive and it's pure comedic gold .

 

I agree; it is the irony that makes it funny. That's what I love about badges and bumper stickers. Stuff like "I used to be indecisive but now I'm not sure" or "I used to be conceited but now I'm perfect".

[Henrik]

Well, Henrico, I think I understand what you mean but that I like the artistic potential doesn’t mean I consider it art as such. Just beautiful-when-well-done – I was just trying to be brief. To me it is still a vehicle of communication – but also a way of learning other things, I.e. reading

 

Quote: So, it's obvious that in early school, students will resent remarks that their writing is not by the book because even students understand their own individuality. Well, teachers should know this and should stop hitting kids on the head(like they used to) for not performing in accordance with the book. Writing is not like math or science. There are no clear equations in writing

 

Well, teachers know this – and they don’t hit any student on the head. (It was abandoned up here some 45 years ago). On the other hand, much of the “bad teaching” all of us have experienced might not be the teacher’s fault alone. Imagine a classroom with 25 student and one teacher – 10 of the children I constantly screaming for help, three are having a fight and the rest are more or less working. The respect for individuality and the ability to keep track of the individual child is very limited under these conditions. Blaming the teachers is so easy.

 

The “hate” is printed on the badge.

 

Happy new year

 

Henrik

 

[henrico]

Happy New Year Henrik and all of Denmark.

Good to "see" you back aNONIEmous. All the best in 2009, Happy copperplate.

 

Henrico

Edited January 1, 2009 by henrico

[aNONIEmous]

Always a pleasure to "see" you too, henrico.

To you and everyone on FPN,

I wish a more prosperous 2009 than the year just ended,

and all the fun one can have making pens dance on paper.

 

May all you wish for come to pass.

http://images26.fotki.com/v941/photos/3/31573/211946/blowingkisses-vi.gif

[henrico]

Hhhhmmmnnn........nice lips

 

Henrico