Is the Writing on the Wall in Cursive?
James DuganI guess a good bit of irony to start is by typing a post that will lament the neglect of cursive handwriting. But recently I have noticed that cursive writing is going the way of the typewriter, which is a horrible analogy since I am still typing away, but you get the point. I have been faced with less and less cursive writing in my class. I even asked an elementary teacher if they still taught it in a local school and she was unsure but she did resolutely remark that “it is the least of her worries.” My students asked me to print assignments on the board as if they didn’t know that I won, “the most beautiful penmanship award in February” when I was in second grade. But a recent article in a local paper Symptoms of a Serious Testing Problem: Lack of Cursive Handwriting by Dr. Joe Giampalmi made me focus less on the personal insult and contemplate on whether this lost art set on the curb as trash should be recycled.
I am for saving it. There is something of magic inherent in the craft of penmanship. There is a special emotional connection in the handwriting on a personal note or inside a card (I would dare not say a letter thus I be lambasted by those amorous and devoted to the art of email). There is something in cursive handwriting (which I think is a redundant phrase) that holds an art, like calligraphy, that makes simple words beautiful in appearance regardless of the message. For the educators and parents out there on the fence, the article above with Cursive Writing for Students with Learning Disabilities and/or Dyslexia by Sue Watson will help convince you to bestow it on your young. Debbie Despirt spells out The Advantages of Cursive Writing very clearly and quickly for benefits in schools.
A good reader is one that is able to connect many ideas in a string of related words. Cursive writing allows the young student to piece the information together in a tactile manner. Instead of breaking up a word in five separate letters like in printing, the writer sees the word as a whole thus alleviating 80% of distractions and disruptions. Cursive writing allows us to write quicker, thus helping the hand catch up to the brain. Giampalmi elaborates how the SAT test and many state tests with built in time limits are easier for those who have mastered the craft of cursive handwriting. If a person is prone to stopping or focusing on the individual components of the word, than that is less time the person will have in contemplating the meaning of the word and its relationship with the essay as a whole.
Another reason is that a good penmanship is a sign that the student is conscientious about the look as well as the matter. The ability to print is basic but cursive writing is the advanced step. We expect educated people to use cursive writing. In fact, we expect our doctors to use cursive writing that is illegible. Though a good argument or writing would be sound because of the matter, there is something, as my mother always said, about first impressions and physical appearance. You may put students at a disadvantage if you neglect cursive writing because it makes them seem less diligent. It is a skill the professional world will expect students to have, especially since most of our generations were drilled that good penmanship was inherent in good character.
The final reason is the emotional connection that a handwritten message has the ability to convey. From love letters to the Declaration of Independence, powerful cursive writing has the ability to convey meaning and beauty simultaneously. Not only that, handwriting can convey hastiness, deliberateness, anger, and joy in how it is performed. We can tell many things by examining primary documents that use cursive, but most important, it has the physical connection of the writer with the paper. The computer and keyboard can not compete with this. Cursive writing keeps the personality of the author with his words. For an avid reader and educator, there is no more powerful insight than a student’s writing. A writer is no longer as distant when we view his journals, first drafts, and letters. He becomes a real human being and their handwriting is their most powerful ghostly imprint.
Handwriting is worth saving. It allows a student to perform better on tests, reveal their personality and make a lasting emotional connection with the reader. Though many do not think they perform cursive well, it is as much a part of our personality as our laugh or fingerprint. But most importantly of all, when someone tells me I have good handwriting, I can tell them about my second grade award as the best cursive writer in Holy Innocents.
Reader Comments (4)
Good post! I am left-handed, and although I was a good student, I got a bright red F in penmanship in Grade 3. This was because I used the eraser too much and it basically made a big mess.
In Journalism classes in the 70s and in my newspaper job after, I scribbled furiously into many a notebook, taking notes for articles when I covered meetings or events. And now, as an editor, I still write on hard copy (although they are pushing us to do electronic edits on pdfs.
I enjoyed your writing and will check out some of the article links.
I was told recently by a gravely concerned, older counselor that they no longer teach cursive writing in elementary schools as a formal part of the curriculum. My response was pragmatic, and possibly a bit obnoxious, for I asked, "Are you really surprised? It's a highly overrated skill and extremely obsolete." And while I still believe this, especially the obsolete aspect, I find your attachment to it admirable. Also, I have always admired the beauty of cursive. For me, it exposed students to the idea of whole other languages, through their own native one.
However, I still can't imagine most employers value this skill, even if it does have certain benefits. The mass majority of employees in almost all professions are communicating via email, and if they need to share a quick note, they certainly don't need the skills of cursive.
I too will read the articles and maybe change my appreciation, but as of right now I'll sign off by typing my name one distinct letter at a time.
T H A N K S F O R T H E L U N C H!
P A T R I C K E D M O N D S
I think handwriting is like understanding Latin...nice but no longer essential.
I found your post interesting and functional. I had a very hard time with my 3rd grade son last year as he learned cursive. He loathes it. He would actually begin to cry in the middle of class and refused to complete assignments because of the anxiety the mere mention of handwriting caused him. He attends parochial school and has absolutely no choice. He would learn it!
Once they learned it, they would use it for all written assignments. Unfortunately, this ended up bringing down a test grade because he was so worried about his cursive that he misspelled a few words. They were testing him on spelling content (that he knew) but using cursive (a skill still not mastered) when assessing. Fortunately I am an educator and did everything I could to help.
We went from exercises and practicing to visits to the psychologist. After a long summer of fighting, yelling, hugging, crying, and laughing, we have worked out most of the kinks. He still grunts at the mention of it, but he does it. All written assignments this year must be in cursive. I have pointed out to him how much quicker he gets done when he does it correctly (we have a huge problem with him writing with his right hand and holding his head up with his left). So, this evening not only did I read your post, but you also had an 8 year old rolling his eyes and exclaiming, "All my God!" I never thought to say to him it is the "more advanced" form of writing, a good challenge always get his attention.