Recently a friend wrote a note to my son. When I asked him what it said he responded “I don’t know I can’t read it.” Now it wasn’t because of the handwriting – well okay maybe it was a bit – but it was because of the cursive. He has gotten use to seeing text in the printed form – I mean come on how many of us select and use a font that looks like cursive? We don’t. It is difficult to read- needs to be a larger font in order for others to make sense of what is being shared. I mean newspapers must have been on to something because they have been using type print since newspapers started.

My daughter’s sixth grade teachers are requiring all students to write in cursive for all assignments. A friend of hers is struggling because after learning cursive in 3rd grade she hasn’t had to use it. Teachers at her elementary school didn’t enforce kids to write in cursive- they just wanted to be able to read their work. All assignments take her twice as long because she has to think about how to form the letters in addition to the content she is sharing. When how you are sharing the information is interfering with the information doesn’t that become an issue? Isn’t it make the “container” more important than the “content”?

If I had a choice to hand write a paper or use a computer, I know that I am going to use the computer. It is easier to revise, you can save multiple copies, work on formatting and the time you take to write your draft – is directly related to the final product. With new tools like the Pulse Pen will cursive be a lost art like calligraphy? Does it matter? 

What about schools that are implementing a 1:1 curriculum? Or schools that are using various handhelds with students? Do you think that they are still teaching cursive? Do you think that handwriting is a standard that matters or is it more important to work with students so they know how to communicate clearly with emphasis on the content and not the container?  

I’d love to hear what you think on this topic. Share your thoughts.