Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
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Thursday, February 23, 2006
Death to cursive writing!
I hate cursive writing. It’s probably because I’m left handed.
Like most lefties, I was incorrectly taught the right-handed way to write in cursive. When you’re left-handed this results in an ink-splattered palm, smudged pages and clunky letters from forcing the pen left to right across the page in the wrong direction (as opposed the smooth glide of the right hand pulling the pen along from behind).
On the radio this morning, the DJ went on a tirade about how he long ago gave up cursive writing and finds other people’s cursive hard to read. I agree. Reading my father’s post cards can be like translating the Rosetta Stone.
A quick Google search produced some evidence that others also don’t see the point of cursive writing. At the No. 2 pencil blog Kimberly argued for cursive while highlighting a Detroit News story that says many schools have stopped teaching it.
I say good riddence. Let the kids spend their time leaning more useful skills.
Repord card after report card, I got “L” for “limited progress” in penmanship until around middle school when I just quit cursive altogether. That sometimes meant a couple points off for some teachers but it was worth it not to break my wrist.
Today, I take notes for a living and I print everything. It works just fine. The only thing I write in cursive is my signature and it is illegible to anyone but me.
But some think cursive is a high art that is being tragically lost. Where do you come down on cursive writing?
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