Cursive Handwriting Getting Erased as Schools Teach Typing Over Script

Happy to hear that Georgia is taking a position on this topic...The basic reason for teaching handwriting is to integrate the neurological system..( Auditory, Visual, Small Motor, and Oral) to maximize learning for all students.

The neurological and educational research on this topic fills volumes but not many educators are recognizing the physiological evidence.

I am 52, and have not used "cursive" since the 8th grade. And no, I was not embarrassed for printing pretty much everything over the last 40 years. I was a mechanic, no need for anything cursive. I would fill out bills by printing to make it legible for those who couldn't read! Since 1995 when I got my first computer, I use the keyboard and printer for anything and everything I need. Personal notes or cards? I'd print my message and then sign it. Not ashamed, just being who I am. I print quite well, and my cursive was always chicken scratch. Printing does not mean I am illiterate, just that I am not very good at cursive. Teach the kids how to read and understand what they are reading. Teach them about responsibility, mathematics, and other necessary life skills. Teach them that "urokwitme" really should be "you are ok with me". Avoid those lessons and you will have a lost and unproductive generation. Oh wait, I am sorry, THAT has already happened!
Mark

Of course, our teachers don't have time to teach cursive, or emphasize basic math or reading skills. They're too busy teaching revisionist history (Columbus was guilty of genocide.), having children read PC short stories by little known writers instead of the classics, teaching them to be green (more important to teach them to "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute" than for them to know what a sedimentary rock is), being socially aware in 1st grade why Johnny has 2 mommies and wears a dress to school, mmm, mmm, mmm Obama, that they should eat rabbit food to save a cow, etc., etc. They've already did a good job of eliminating P.E. and recess and then wonder why so many of the kids in school look like little piggies. Eliminating the teaching of cursive is just another example of the dumbing down of America. Technology is great but not perfect. Ever been in the supermarket checkout line when the power goes out? You can wait a couple of hours until it turns back on or leave your groceries and go home since prices aren't marked on food items and heaven forbid if a cashier should be expected to add and subtract.

I can't remember the last time i wrote in cursive. I'm either typing or regular writing.

So... will one's signature then be written in block letters?

@Holly- Considering most elementary school course spend about three weeks per unit, there's more than enough room for pollution and rock types in a second grade class. Also, what else do you call the systematic rape, slaughter and enslavement of an entire race of people but "genocide"? It's not revisionist if it's true. Just because we no longer work with the "winner writes history" doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Quite the opposite. Children are getting facts instead of myths. Yes, Columbus was important, he brought American crops to Europe and horses, weapons and trade to the Americas. He's also responsible for syphilis and the near-destruction of a culture that nearly pre-dated his own.

Gee whiz!! How will kids read some of our historic documents, sign their names if they should ever get a paycheck. This reminds me of a story my MIL told me regarding my BIL and their parent/teacher conference, how the teacher stated learning how to spell was not important because of spell check on the computer. Their, there, bear, bare

Just wait until they have to take the SAT or any AP exams. They'll lose major amounts of time in the AP and hold up the entire test when they have to write the certification statement on the SAT.

The essays on the SAT, ACT, and AP also are handwritten.

Just keep saving school time and lose important test time.

It's not really about the penmanship itself, it's about developing the premotor cortex. If we are eliminating writing in cursive, what are we putting in its place to make sure this region of the brain gets the opportunity to build the neurons kids need to become proficient in reading/writing/speaking?

It should be included as part of a WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION, however, since "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" which was created by a non-reading, less than intellectual President, the schools are forced to focus on TESTING rather than TEACHING. Many things are going by the wayside, including arts and physical education. Many teachers AND principals lament this law and how it forces them to "educate". They all agree that it has taken away children's LOVE OF LEARNING and PLEASURE in many subjects that were previously offered freely.

What do you mean you have not used cursive since you were nine? Do you mean to tell me you went through your adult life printing? Weren't you embarrassed to write like a child at an adult age? This just shows how lazy Gen-X and Gen-Y people are. Just because we have new skills (computers and texting) does not mean we should lose old skills. My son goes to Catholic school and they are requiring the kids to learn cursive and typing. Our kids need to be challenged to do more. They really are becoming lazy.

I'm 24 years old,, and have a 3 year old at home. I think that children should know how to write in cursive. its part of being a well rounded student. Not all people have computers/cell phones. I am teaching her how to write - in cursive. I write in cursive all the time. I seldomly write in print.

Certainly these days it's important for people to know how to type. And I've noticed that a lot of people (for example my grand niece) don't write in cursive. Despite one comment, cursive has to be faster. But you raise the point I wanted to make: without knowing cursive, how can anyone sign their name? Are we going to go back to signing with an X?

at vinsmom. so you feel comfortable calling out TWO generations on this? guess what, you precious baby boomers are STILL in charge, nothing's changed. i AM a GEN-XER (a moniker the baby boom hung onto us as an insult, "so generic, brand X"!) btw, my kids are doing great, they can read AND write! i do NOT agree with the not teaching cursive! motor skills are important also! too many computer type skills and not enough reasoning skills are being taught nowadays! guess what, the people who created computers and sent a man to the moon learned how to read, write, and do arithmetic in school, they were NOT learning how to "tweet" (yes, i know i'm all over the place with this post, but baby boomers who call out gen-xers burn my goat!)

Yes, from age 10 on I have written in print because my teachers stopped requiring I hand in handwritten assignments. No, I am not embarrassed because my print does not look like a child's hand writing. For me it is faster to print than use cursive and far more legible for the people I work with. Considering I have to work in groups on an almost daily basis and most of my colleagues don't write or read cursive well either, it is more expedient to write how I am most comfortable. We're not in a world where calligraphy is important anymore, so why waste the time learning cursive? It doesn't decrease literacy, analytical thinking or writing ability. Possibly penmanship, but when bosses and teachers will be reading typed work and teammates can read printed handwriting, I don't see that as an issue. Time to come into the 21st century, my friends. If cursive is that important to you, teach it to your children at home, instead of wasting class time.

To vinsmom,

I as well as the poster of this comment have not used cursive writing since I was taught how to do it in the third grade. It is a useless skill that I would have been fine without knowing. To answer your rude remark, YES I have gone my entire adult life writing print....from notes in college to the paperwork that I fill out at work. I have never been embarassed to print because I print very nicely and am complimented on my penmanship all the time. You talk a lot of bs about us being lazy but I'm pretty sure that your son doesnt write in cursive either not to mention I probably have better grades than him :P

@whatsgood- I could just kiss you for putting into words what I've apparently been failing to make clear.