"The cursive script that's been taught for decades in American public schools is just plain UGLY.
Most people with more than half a brain develop their own cursive style as soon as they get out of elementary school (teachers seem to stop caring after that).
When I see handwriting that's written in perfect "schoolteacher" cursive, I think the writer must be a dull unimaginative person -- just like most public school teachers."
Then you don't know many public school teachers. I know many "imaginative" personalities among the their ranks.
The cursive I taught as a third grade teacher (about 10 years ago) has changed quite a bit, but yes, many people DO develop their own style regardless.
My little first grade students try to write their names in cursive sometimes. One is actually quite good, but the others have me scrambling to decipher them. :)
I knew I'd get a defensive reply from a public school teacher.
But I went ahead and posted because it's the truth.
Sorry, but most public school teachers are dolts, including those in the "good" school districts. And it's getting worse all the time as each new crop of socially-indoctrinated teachers comes in.
I've known dozens and dozens of public school teachers in my lifetime --my own teachers, as well as those of my four children.
A generous estimate for the percentage of smart, imaginative public school teachers would be about 5%. Another 20% are competent, but uninspiring. The rest are worthless or worse.