The Decline of Handwriting and Penmanship in Schools: Is Cursive Writing Still Relevant?

The practice of handwriting, particularly cursive writing, has seen a decline in schools over recent decades. This decline has raised questions about its significance in the modern educational landscape. Many educators and parents wonder if cursive writing should still be part of the curriculum. Let's explore the arguments for and against the continued teaching of cursive writing in schools.

The Current Opinion on Teaching Handwriting in Schools

Handwriting, particularly cursive writing, has significantly declined over several years. This decline has led to a situation where many teachers do not possess the necessary skills to read or write cursive. Personally, I have not used cursive writing since my elementary school days, which were over 50 years ago. The decline is largely due to the lack of demand and the increasing reliance on digital communication, where handwritten notes are no longer a primary means of communication.

The Benefits of Cursive Writing for Students

Despite its decline, cursive writing still holds several benefits for students. For instance, cursive writing involves a fluid motion that can help students visualize words. Many students experience improved spelling skills when writing in cursive. The act of cursive writing triggers muscle memory related to specific words, making it easier for students to remember how to spell them. Some students can even spell words correctly in their heads when writing cursive, reducing the need for visual aids. Additionally, cursive writing is more energy-efficient and faster compared to printing. Each time a student lifts their pencil in printing to start a new letter, they engage their stomach muscles. With cursive writing, they only need to lift the pencil between words, which requires less physical effort and can be completed more quickly.

Cursive writing also enhances readability. The spaces created between words in cursive writing make the text easier to read. For students who struggled with spacing while printing, cursive writing can significantly improve their work's clarity. A misplaced stroke can result in a different word altogether, which is less likely to happen in cursive writing due to its fluid nature. These visual cues in cursive writing make it easier for educators to decipher and provide feedback on student work.

The Importance of Cursive Writing in the Modern Age

Some argue that cursive writing still has a place in the modern educational curriculum. Not only is it a valuable skill for students to learn, but it also promotes manual dexterity. Practicing cursive can help children develop fine motor skills, which are essential for other tasks such as typing or writing by hand. Additionally, cursive writing can be perceived as "cool" by students. Introducing cursive can potentially make a subject more engaging and less intimidating.

Implementing cursive writing in the classroom can be a relatively straightforward process. It can be taught with a minimum of resources. Assigning three letters a day for fifteen minutes a day can help students become proficient in a month. This method not only promotes manual dexterity but also encourages students to engage with the written word in a creative and visual manner.

The Counterarguments: A Waste of Time?

While some educators and students see value in cursive writing, others argue that it is a waste of time. One of the primary counterarguments is that cursive writing is not faster than printing. In fact, for many individuals, attempting to write cursive legibly requires significant time and effort. Writing a single page in cursive may take an hour or more, and the writer's hand and arm may be sore by the end. In contrast, block-printing a page can often be done in just a few minutes without any physical strain.

Another argument against cursive writing is that it does not enhance reading skills. Cursive writing often appears as a different language to many readers, making it difficult to decipher. The founding documents of our country, for example, were available in print versions almost as soon as they were drafted. Modern documentation is almost exclusively typed, making the need for cursive writing even more obsolete.

Furthermore, in the age of digital communication, the need for handwritten notes is diminishing. In many cases, typed text is the preferred mode of communication, especially in academic and professional settings. Even for items that are handwritten, block lettering is often more legible than cursive. The reliance on digital communication has made handwritten cursive writing a less common and less important skill in the modern world.

Conclusively, while cursive writing was once a valuable and necessary skill, its place in the modern educational curriculum is questionable. As technology continues to evolve, the importance of cursive writing in daily communication is decreasing. However, the benefits of cursive writing in terms of visual learning, muscle memory, and manual dexterity make it a valuable addition to the curriculum for certain subjects and students.