By John Q. Hosedrinker Shunned in computer age, cursive makes a comeback in California
When I think back to my elementary school days, I distinctly remember the struggle of learning cursive. My teacher would tell us that we needed to learn it because we would use it every day. But as it turns out, I have rarely ever used cursive in my life. It has become nothing more than a novelty, brought out on rare occasions when I’ve had a few glasses of wine and start to talk in a fancy, looped manner.
So, is there really any reason to learn cursive anymore? Some argue that it is just a way to appease older generations who criticize young people for not wasting their time on cursive in school. But is that a valid reason to continue teaching it? I’m not so sure.
Personally, I think cursive should be treated as a small part of the curriculum, introduced early on when students are learning basic writing skills. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but rather something that is integrated into art classes or as an elective. After all, I can’t remember the last time I needed to write in cursive for any practical purpose.
And let’s not forget the struggles of deciphering individual cursive handwriting styles. When I come across old documents written in cursive, I often find myself struggling to read them. Each person’s cursive is so unique that it can be a real challenge to understand what is being written. Personally, I prefer printed letters where each letter stands on its own, unconnected to the others.
Of course, there are some arguments in favor of learning cursive. It is said to help develop fine motor skills and even aid in reading original historical documents. But how often do we really read historical documents in our day-to-day lives or careers? I don’t see it as a compelling reason to require all students to learn cursive.
Besides, in today’s digital age, we have tools that allow us to toggle between block and cursive writing. If there ever comes a time when we need to read historical documents, we can transcribe them, store them, and present them in a legible printed format. Learning cursive just doesn’t seem like the best use of students’ time and energy.
As a teacher, I understand the importance of developing fine motor skills. But I worry that with the increasing use of technology, many students are missing out on crucial handwriting practice. I see it in my reading groups, where students struggle with pencil control and efficiency. The most effective way to write is top to bottom, left to right, but many students write in inefficient ways, starting from the bottom and lacking control.
That being said, I don’t believe that cursive is the solution to this problem. There are other ways to develop fine motor skills, such as using scissors or engaging in hands-on activities. We shouldn’t rely solely on cursive to address this issue.
Ultimately, cursive is a personal and individualistic form of writing. No two people’s handwriting is the same, and cursive can often be challenging for others to decipher. The legibility of cursive is a significant drawback, as the purpose of writing is to communicate clearly. Printed letters are easier to learn and read, without the downsides of cursive.
In conclusion, while there may be some arguments in favor of learning cursive, I believe that its importance has significantly diminished in the computer age. There are more relevant areas for students to focus their time and energy on. Let’s not waste valuable classroom hours on a skill that has become largely obsolete.