The death of cursive writing began back in the 1920s when educators decided that children learned to read by looking at printed manuscripts rather than cursive, and they should learn to write the same way. Manuscript, or print writing, was in standard use across the U.S. by WWII. Now, students are taught print in kindergarten and cursive in third grade. However, after third grade, there are no more lessons on penmanship.
Writing used to be considered an art, with elaborate characters that took time and skill to write. Someone’s handwriting, especially cursive, was unique and hard to imitate. Now, it has been simplified to practical print that will get the point across as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Teachers do not place emphasis on cursive writing because it is not necessary anymore. In third grade, I was taught the basics of cursive and never used it again in school. The only thing I use it for now is my signature, which is sloppy and resembles the work of a ten year-old child. Technology is one of the causes of the death of handwriting. I don’t even remember the last time I had to submit a hand-written assignment; most of the schoolwork I have is either online or a typed paper. Rosemary Sassoon, a handwriting specialist said, “Today’s hands are not as useful as they were in the past. Our age of technology does not require human hands to perform many of its duties. However, when children do need the use of their hands, their lack of practice makes a job a lot more difficult.” We often take the easy way out and just resort to typing. Now, if cursive is taught in schools, it is just so that the children will be able to read it, not necessarily use it themselves.
In today’s society, it is important that kids learn how to write effectively and quickly. If that means learning how to write in print and use computers, then so be it. However, it is also important that we don’t let cursive go the way of Latin and die.
