Posted on 09/27/2015 5:35:19 AM PDT by knarf
I haven't forgotten.
But my cursive kinda looks like I did. :-P
The giant “s” that looked like an “f” was done on a printing press.
That’s its most recent usage, but it predates the printing press.
“Cursive is a dead language.”
Technically, any linked language is cursive; some types of “linked printing” are cursive. My grandparents were taught Spencerian cursive; I was taught looped cursive (which I hated with a passion and quit using ASAP); I taught my kids Italic cursive.
But I do essentially agree that cursive is rapidly becoming a dead language that doesn’t need to be taught, because most people do so little handwriting that print is perfectly functional. OTOH, Latin is a dead language, and I still teach my kids a lot of it. I also expect them to be able to read cursive, not least because a lot of older kid’s books would have inserted letters or the like that are in a cursive script.
It’s also nice to be able to directly check primary history sources, or even your own personal history (letters to and from grandparents; notes in old family books), which are mostly in some form of cursive.
Me too, same age group, same teaching, but never mastered the neatness that makes for beautiful cursive.
Yes, I have a copy of a 1720’s book....it took awhile to get used to the f’s...as well as the “lingo”...LOL
Now that time is taken up by pro-homosexual, anti-bullying indoctrination.
Cursive is a white thing.
“should Latin be a subject for older children who develop a knack and interest in such things?”
Maybe only to those who develop a knack/interest. But why shouldn’t teenagers be forced to do things that don’t really interest them if it’s to their long-term advantage? Kids call all the shots now, tell their parents how things will be, and have no self discipline. That goes for a language, music lessons, or what-have-you. I had no choice. In NY State, when their education system was excellent, we Regents students had to take a language. Our choices were Spanish, French, or Latin. Looking at a future in med school (I didn’t go), I chose Latin.
Interesting idea you brought up, i.e., teaching Latin to every first grader. Kind of “out there”, but how could it hurt? The education libs, TV shows, etc., are shoving Spanish down their throats. Why not Latin? With a base in Latin, the others come more easily.
“Then again we homeschool.”
I figured that home-schooled kids would be studying penmanship. Parents who homeschool generally want to give their kids all tools possible to be successful as adults.
And isn’t cursive beautiful? My dad, schooled in the ‘30s and ‘40s, had the most gorgeous penmanship!
And we should force lefties to write as if they are using their right hand.
I hate getting ink on my cuff.
How about we teach them grammar. In the time that remains, they can learn cursive.
Do you print your name when you endorse your pay check?
Thought so...
Regards,
GtG
Cursive’s utility is that it allows one to write quickly and efficiently with a minimum of lifting of the pen off the paper. Now, we have computers that are even more efficient in producing documents.
Actually I did read some of that transcript. In all fairness, had I read it first before I commented, my comment would not be so bad. I see what happened there, and although quite a mess, I better understand why you did what you did. So.....as far as Bill Clinton.....that comment sticks!
Absolutely. Young kids have a lot of time to develop dexterity with their hands. Pity the child who didn’t have an adult to keep them on task when they wanted to go the easy route.
Everyone admires the writing of those who do.
Of course, with computers and all, who needs mom and apple pie?
I in fact don’t print my signature, neither do I use cursive. My “signature”, like most people these days, is a distinctive swiggle that you’d be hard pressed to declare it to be anything approaching text.
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