Posted on 08/20/2006 3:45:13 PM PDT by AVNevis
My little brother is starting the forth grade. His teacher is making all of the students write in cursive. This is a problem for him since he hasn't recieved much instruction in it so far and even his printing is kind of messy.
But my question is why? Why are we making kids write all of their classwork in cursive? The last time I used that skill was in the fifth grade when I was learning cursive. Except for a few rare occasions, I haven't used it since.
I can understand teaching it a little bit so you can read cursive writing and develop a signature. But make the kids write everything in cursive? Isn't that a little much for a skill they will only rarely use? They may as well learn Old English.
I think I would much rather have them practive typing and printing neatly, which they will use much more.
No one has been able to give me a good reason why cursive should be required. Am I missing something?
Cursive writing is much faster than "regular" writing for those who are practiced at it.
Would you like him to sign his name later in life using block letters?
it's not enough to be able to type, "how r u 2day?"
A hundred years ago or so, you had to learn latin, didn't you?
I write my name in cursive, and that's it. I print or type otherwise.
I just sort of mumble "unnngh" and perforate the check with the pen for a while. Everyone seems to understand.
I hated cursive writing when I had to learn it and distinctly remember my parents catching me cheating at it (I was tracing the writing in the textbook). My handwriting has evolved into a mixture of cursive and printing. Only my signature is cursive. Ironically, both my parents handwriting is a mixture of the two as well.
Try printing your name when you sign your next check or submit your next job application.
Same, and thats when I write something. I type so much, I think I write something on actual paper about once every two weeks (check for pizza!) haha
Cursive is faster, and needed be any less readable.
You might as well ask, "Why learn to type, vice just hunt and peck?" or, "Why learn the multiplication tables when adding long columns will work?"
Do you never write hand written letters or cards? If so, do you actually print everything out like a second grade student?
Do you print your signature, or is it cursive?
I lived without it all my life.
I think I was in HS when a teacher told me -- never use cursive again for (my) your entire life.
But kids ned to learn to write it so they can READ it, whether they use it or not.
I'm admittedly something of a luddite where writing is concerned - I love writing with fountain pens and even (*gasp*) dip pens - but personally, I think it's rather sad that cursive isn't being universally taught. Is it absolutely necessary when most people will type most of what they write these days? Perhaps not. But it's much faster than printing for times when you *do* need it, and having nice, legible handwriting is an art form.
An addendum to my last post - when I was in school, we didn't learn cursive until second or third grade, as I recall. So...in fourth, I would still have been pretty new to it, so I could see using it in most subjects as a means of practicing.
And why bother using a fork for that matter?
Okay, that's just silly.
Cursive is faster to write. My daughter learned it in kindergarten. Both printing and cursive are required. The focus was more on printing with the second half on cursive. Both are required to be mastered in first grade.</p>
Haven't you noticed on forms there is a place to "print" your name and "sign" your name?
Next century people may be asking “Why learn to type when I just dictate everything into my ring computer”. The century after that it may be controlled by implant.
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