Sunday, May 08, 2011

Cursive Writing should be taught in Art Class

Why do so many teachers still teach Cursive Writing? I have done a small sample simply asking why do you think we use Cursive Writing? The top answer was speed, followed closely by authorization.

How long will it take for people to understand that speed does not equal quality? Perhaps that is why all our textbooks, tests, newspapers, magazines, food and medicine labels, reading books, project reports, etc…

How about the computer, most people type in a printed font.

Authorization signature is outdated, if not why do many documents say sign and print your name? Is it because no one can read your writing and those people who do personality tests from writing will be out of a job? The time has come people to stop teaching this ancient script in English class and use our time more productively in teaching the concepts of reading, writing and grammar in English class so we do not fall further behind in Career and College Readiness. http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/pdf/ready_to_succeed.pdf

Who cares if K – 4 students can’t stay in the lines or if the loops are not correct. I say continue to teach cursive just do it in Art Class. Being able to draw those curvy lines and shapes make it ideal for Art Class (Which is also very important).


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

From my observation, it seems many schools in the United States seem to be dropping it. Not long ago, in the nineties to be exact, my little school in Canada taught us cursive and all the students had to do their work completely that way. This continued until high school. It's something I'm grateful for, it taught pride in penmanship, and to me, not being able to produce a beautiful signature when signing any number of documents would be embarrassing.

Anonymous said...

I have school aged children and I am very disappointed that handwriting has been dropped as a required class. Learning proper handwriting and cursive encouraged me to take pride in my penmanship and all my work, as well. I believe learning this is so important that I have taken it upon myself to teach my children.

Anonymous said...

Not knowing how to read or write in cursive is a form of illiteracy. Those of us who have this tool take it for granted that we can decipher texts penned by the country's forefathers. We will not be dependent upon someone else "translating" documents from cursive to print. We can go back and check documents for accuracy and research. And while the masses nod their heads in agreement about doing away with this outmoded subject, the children of the elite will be equipped with what will become an enormous tool and skill at the high school and university level when the level of research becomes more in depth.

Anonymous said...

I dont' get it, cursive is easy and fast to learn.

I write, and when I write, I do it in a book in cursive, regardless of where I am. You can keep your laptops and typing. I'm thankful I learned it many years ago.

Come to think about it, not only should they continue to teach cursive, they should teach short hand! My mom knows it and I wish I did.

qualityg says said...

I never said to stop teaching cursive - do it in Art Class.

Stop by an elementary school and ask the teacher how many months/years they spend on cursive writing. - Sorry - it's not fast and not easy for the majority of students. - I've been there.

Anonymous said...

cursive writing although not utilized by most does facilitate left sided brain development and spatial reasoning. So its benefits go beyond the obvious. Why teach physics and chemistry when most people will never use it in their day to day life (similar arguement). Our education system (not really a system as k-6th, middle, high school do not work together for the end goal)needs better planning and measurements in general. How about vocational training....oh that right, the US doesn't manufacture anything anymore.

Anonymous said...

The reason it still needs to be taught is there is cursive writing permanetly inscripted on historical monuments,and in various other places and children are unable to read it because they are not taught to do so .I disagree totally with the author of this blog.

qualityg says said...

Amazing! Never did I write not to teach cursive. I simply stated to teach it in ART class!

Anonymous said...

Cursive is not for art class. It is not calligraphy, either. It is the English language, such as what the American Constitution is written in. Cursive is beautiful, refined, and shows a dedication to the quality of your words. If you do not want to bother learning cursive, why bother even learning to write at all? Can't you have an app of your phone turn your voice into print in ten years, anyway? If you don't want to bother learning to write cursive, I mean why bother learning to read? Can't an online computer read a document for you? Why bother learning at all? Some of us enjoy, appreciate, and respect cursive. Most of all, it is a matter of respect, and those who DO know cursive, will be seen as harbingers of respect. I guess it is you choice whether or not to pay attention to learn cursive. Ultimately, it will also be a reflection of you as well.

S. Renaud said...

It seems Anonymous who says Cursive is the English Language is somewhat combative. Cursive goes back to the Latin and Medieval Times. To say it is English is not correct.

I'm not reading where the author of this Blog says not to learn it; just in a different class.

Also, you could say we should still train and use copper wire for technology because that is what has always been - BUT -
Technology has shown that efficiency improves dramatically with time, it can become obsolete as more reliable, and better, technologies supersede it.

Conventional hard drives are being replaced by memory chips because chips are faster and, in time, seem poised to become cheaper. Copper, despite advances like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and the cable industry's DOCSIS standards, is being replaced by wireless technologies.

Yes, everything one does is a reflection of who one is and everything one writes is also a reflection.