Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Is cursive writing still important?

Twice in the past two days students have approached me about writing a persuasive essay/speech about teaching cursive writing (or script) in school.  They are both 'for' the teaching of script, but many schools no longer teach handwriting.  I have heard from several teachers lately, and parents of children in elementary school, that cursive writing is no longer being taught in schools.  Instead, children are taught how to use the computer and typing (or rather keyboard) skills.

Don't get me wrong, I think typing skills are very important.  Taking a typing class my last semester in college was one of the smartest things I have done, and it has helped me acquire a few jobs.  However, I do believe that hand written notes and letters are special, and valuable, and an art that I hope will not be lost to the next generation, and generations to come.  So I hand write thank-you notes, and letters, and invitations, and condolence notes.  How often do you use handwriting . . . and what do you use it for?

2 comments:

  1. Christina Victor-BandyopadhyayNovember 20, 2012 at 5:47 PM

    I don't 'hand' write too much anymore. I feel sentimental about it too. But we have a new world order and we need new tools to survive in this world. I don't think hand writing is one of them.

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  2. Ahh - it may be a lost art. But I'll keep it up, and my children, but their children???

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