Is cursive writing dead?

CBS ^

[TigerClaws]

A single sentence, uttered in the trial of George Zimmerman for the shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin, has catapulted an issue into the national spotlight.

When asked if she could read a letter in court, witness Rachel Jeantel, her head bowed, murmured with embarrassment, "I don't read cursive," according to court testimony.

Is it any surprise that cursive -- the looped, curvaceous style of handwriting that's been a mainstay of education for generations -- is all but dead? [15 Weird Things We Do Everyday, and Why]

"Cursive should be allowed to die. In fact, it's already dying, despite having been taught for decades," Morgan Polikoff, assistant professor of education at the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, told The New York Times.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

When asked if she could read a letter in court, witness Rachel Jeantel, her head bowed, murmured with embarrassment, "I don't read cursive," according to court testimony.

The elephant in the room that CBS ignored is that, if the witness can't read it, she must not have written it.

Matter of fact, by making the issue cursive handwriting, they get to bury the fact that Benjamin Crump wrote that letter for her.

[FredZarguna]

This non-debate is typical of the kind of crap we have to put up with when commentators refuse to cut to the chase: If handwriting is legible, ANY person of modest capacity who can read is able to read it (yes, as somebody else said, "it's just another font.")

The bottom line is that a dim-witted perjurer could NOT READ AT ALL. Look at her testimony on the previous day when she is handed typewritten exhibit after exhibit and clearly has NO idea what they say. "I can't read cursive" is baloney. She can't read, and the defense clearly knew this when they asked her to read the letter she'd supposedly written.

[Jeff Winston]

No but a punk thug violent attacker is.

That wins a nomination for post of the day.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I wonder how in the heck she knew the word.

Five years in 7th grade.

[FredZarguna]

Neither will Holder’s people, so you’ll be fined or imprisoned for discrimination...

[Cyman]

I was truly shocked she knew what the word cursive meant. Sort of like using the term niggardly.

[showme_the_Glory]

Dead on.

[austinaero]

If our culture is depending on the US Education system to teach it then yes,,yes it is

[1rudeboy]

There probably be an app for that . . . .

[Paladin2]

I remember getting an HP Deskjet 500 for my kidz.

It was great.

[CaptainK]

So signing a contract in the future will be done in print letters?

[Kenny Bunk]

....... if the witness can't read it, she must not have written it.

Doh!

[Fiji Hill]

If you write in a language that uses the Cyrillic alphabet, you’ll use cursive writing because manuscript would be too slow.

[Borges]

I’m guessing you approve of the demise?

[mware]

I have some students in my 7th grade class that can not read or write cursive.

I have actually proposed making it into an after school activity, so the kids can learn it.

Many really do want to be able to read and write it.

Some of the kids asked me why it is important to learn it, and I told them if they had any desire to read documents in their original text, they will need to learn it.

[grania]

FWIW, in my adventures in substituting, I found myself with a prep period and nothing much to do. I chanced upon an old, old cursive writing book on a shelf. I spent that prep period practicing cursive.

I was astounded how much writing cursive did to encourage the flow of thoughts. Once it's on paper, in pen, it's there, and besides those thoughts, it conveys style and cohesiveness. It was a real good intellectual exercise.

It would've done that witness in the Zimmerman case some good.

[GQuagmire]

I’m embarassed to say that I’ve started to forget how to write in cursive. I tried not too long ago and made so many mistakes it wasn’t funny

[Truth is a Weapon]

Well if that happens, cursive could become the new way to code messages you don’t want some people and machines to read.

[oh8eleven]

My mother, a South Dakota farm girl, has the most exquisitely beautiful handwriting.
Mine did too. Back in the 50s, I'd bring a note into school excusing my absence and without fail, my teachers would always comment on her penmanship.
Then they'd look at me and ask why mine was so bad. Sigh ...

[gov_bean_ counter]

...as were court records and land conveyances.