Don't you think that the time spent on cursive couldn't have been spent on more useful things when you're younger and in school. That is the point.
As has been alluded to in this thread, there are probably a couple of developmental benefits to be had from this training that are separate from the dubious value of being able to actually write in cursive. Usually, the "we're never going to use this" argument fails because the person learning the useless art is actually getting benefits they are unaware of.
On the argument of motor skills and stuff like that, you think there are no other ways to benefit a child's motor skills than learning cursive? I think there have to be better ways in my opinion.
There's no good reason to have it- good point, Stack. No valid argument for it either. But then again, there are things in life that persist although they make no logical sense, like monogamy.
I'm surprised at all of you who don't use cursive. It's the only way I ever write. And yes: my penmanship is legible. Disagree: It's a more efficient form of writing if your pen doesn't have to leave the paper vs. printing, where every letter requires you to lift the pen from the page. It may be a small thing, but it's a good and valid reason nonetheless.
I exclusively use cursive when I write for myself (notes, first drafts) and usually use cursive when I write for other people (forms, memos). The reason is because I write cursive faster than I print, and I read my cursive writing and print writing at about the same speed.
Agreed. The speed argument is being too easily dismissed. I prefer to write cursive for personal notes but knowing how bad it is, i do slow it down (and occasionally print) for easy of other people to read
Here are a few to ponder upon. I am sure they can mix any of these activities into something that will help children with their motor skills. Im sure you could have googled this yourself before responding. tying shoes zipping and unzipping buckling and unbuckling playing games that require precise hand and finger control drawing, painting, and coloring manipulating buttons and snaps putting small objects together doing puzzles making crafts using scissors manipulating small objects such as coins opening and closing objects picking up and holding onto small objects developing and maintaining an effective and proper pencil grip pinching objects between fingers using locks and keys being able to isolate finger movements (i.e., using one finger at a time, such as in playing the piano or typing) turning things over or turning pages of a book holding and using utensils properly and effectively screwing and unscrewing doing ANYTHING that requires small precise hand and finger movements
Do you know that schools (at least every one where I've taught) already do all these things (with the possible exception of screwing/unscrewing and keys), largely in art, phys Ed, and music classes? Penmanship is taught over and above all the things you mentioned. Fine motor development is much, much more important than most people realize, and takes a lot longer than most people think.
Im sure they do because I did it as a kid as well. I am saying that instead of the time the put into cursive, put it more to other activities. At the end of the day penmanship is not a big deal anymore with all the computers and cell phones that people converse through. Almost all papers these days for school are typed. Anyone in the world today can get by with great print penmanship because cursive is not widely used. Back 10-20 years ago it was a bit different story in my opinion.
I agree actually. I use a hybrid of cursive and print today though. It doesn't quite make much sense, I'll write sentences almost entirely in print and then sprinkle in like 2 or 3 cursive words.
I agree, we shouldn't spend that much time on it just for that, but it seems like that's the only time you pretty much have to use it. Maybe if printed signatures were accepted more easily, there really would be no need for cursive. Then again, it could help improve control over pens and pencils, which would help any kind of writing/drawing. I see someone mentioned this already in one of the replies. Maybe there's been a study done?
Dexterity, which is good for artists, musicians, technicians, athletes et al. Also, good cursive is faster than manuscript, and typewriters/computers are not a natural resource.
When I was in the tenth grade, we had this old school English teacher who insisted everything in her class has to be done in cursive. It screwed with everyone because nobody in the class has done cursive since the 3rd grade and our writing efficiency slowed down dramatically. The worst thing is she also uses cursive for her notes, so no one could read half of her handwriting. Every class we spent like 20 minutes making her clearfy her handwriting on the board. It was hella annoying, eventually she allowed typing out and printing our homework, after that no one ever wrote in cursive again... I know cool story. Moral of the story cursive is hard to read, and slows down overall efficiency so it shouldn't be forced onto students.
I remember learning cursive a long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. I still write like a 3rd grader, maybe worse. I get confused on the lowercase f's and b's. Also, I don't think I learned upper case letters. Do they exist in cursive? LIKE IF I WANT TO WRITE THIS SENTENCE IN ALL CAPS IN CURSIVE?
