kids not being taught how to write in cursive at schools, anymore?

[C.Ann]

Sorry, C. Ann I'm kind of OLD too and I NEVER write... ANYTHING. I've always hated my handwriting and am soooo glad I can type just about anything, if I wrote you'd never understand it!
.

I'm one of those people who have always loved to write in cursive - could hardly wait to learn it when I was in school.. I can write in cursive - as well as print - extremely neatly, but I prefer cursive.. I understand that not everyone can do it - or even likes it - but it's wrong for people to assume that others don't use it simply because they don't.. Know what I mean?

C.Ann - I think you're getting WAYYY to fascinated by the Amish... Almost every post has a reference to what you have learned recently.
But I guess it's the same when we manage to some how find a way to reference Disney.

Yes - I will readily admit that I am extremely fascinated by the Amish - and will also say that I am extremely proud of it.. Why is that? Because I held many of the "assumptions" and "misconceptions" that others do of the Amish - based on very little knowledge.. So I decided to actually research the Amish to uncover what is fact and what is fiction - so when I discuss it with others, I can have an intelligent conversation that is based on facts.. I still have a long way to go - and a lot more to learn - but just what I have learned to date has pretty much wiped out every misconception I have ever heard about them..

See? You're never too old to learn something new.. Shoot - now I'm even collecting Amish recipes to try out..

My interest in Disney has pretty much waned - in terms of ever going there again - but I know others are still crazy about the place.. That's what makes us all unique..

 

[ilovepete]

Here is my view, and it may not be popular, but it's how I feel.

I'd much rather the school system spend their time teaching the kids how to type and use digital forms of communication because that is what they are going to be exposed to and using once they are out of school, in college, and getting a job. The schools only have so much time with the kids and need to teach them the things that will benefit them the most. I'd rather my kids learn how to use Word, Excel, etc. than learn to write in cursive.

Also, I think this is part of what is wrong with the education system in our country... the expectation. If people are expecting the public school system to teach their child everything they ever need to know in life, I'm afraid they might be in for a big surprise. Parents need to be more involved in supplemental education of their kids. An example, if you want your kids to know cursive, and it's not being taught in school anymore, nothing says you can't teach them yourself.


(and I don't mean "you" in pointing to any one person, but a general you)

I hope this doesn't come off as abrasive. I am not trying to be snarky or anything at all. I know tone can sometimes get lost on posts so I want to be clear that I am not trying to sound harsh or judgmental but just express my opinion.

 

[brenalexacamp]

and to think of all the kiddos that didn't "pass" cursive on their report cards- we had the nuns! Need I say more?

 

[~Serenity~]

There is no law that says letters have to be in cursive and no one under the age of 30 writes real letters any more anyway which is why they no longer teach cursive. Our kids learned cursive but haven't had a teacher yet that requires them to use it so none of them do. It really isn't a big deal. I would rather they spent the time they had learning cursive in the computer lab (and they did have a computer lab class, just more time) because that is far more valuable today.

I'm 17 I write real letters all the time actually.

 

[SandrA9810]

The postal service won't go out entirely. What will people do on Ebay??

There still has to be a way to get things from point A to point B. But it is sad that the little effort put into handwriting a letter and putting a stamp on it, has gone by the wayside.

My print can be neat, cursive if I try hard. But writing with a pencil will make my writing a lot better than a pen.

 

[golfgal]

Here is my view, and it may not be popular, but it's how I feel.

I'd much rather the school system spend their time teaching the kids how to type and use digital forms of communication because that is what they are going to be exposed to and using once they are out of school, in college, and getting a job. The schools only have so much time with the kids and need to teach them the things that will benefit them the most. I'd rather my kids learn how to use Word, Excel, etc. than learn to write in cursive.

Also, I think this is part of what is wrong with the education system in our country... the expectation. If people are expecting the public school system to teach their child everything they ever need to know in life, I'm afraid they might be in for a big surprise. Parents need to be more involved in supplemental education of their kids. An example, if you want your kids to know cursive, and it's not being taught in school anymore, nothing says you can't teach them yourself.


(and I don't mean "you" in pointing to any one person, but a general you)

I hope this doesn't come off as abrasive. I am not trying to be snarky or anything at all. I know tone can sometimes get lost on posts so I want to be clear that I am not trying to sound harsh or judgmental but just express my opinion.

I agree-most companies are trying to go paperless, heck our SCHOOL is going mostly paperless. It think it is a good thing and quite honestly, it is a HECK of a lot easier to type a paper then it is to handwrite one .

 

[C.Ann]

and to think of all the kiddos that didn't "pass" cursive on their report cards- we had the nuns! Need I say more?

Only one word: "Ouch!!!"

 

[deedeetoo]

I really don't see the need for it. Both my kids have learned it but I was really kind of surprised that they still do it. I never write in cursive anymore except for signing my name. I only print.

 

[lemondog]

My kids go to Catholic school. They learn cursive in 3rd grade, and are required to do all homework, tests, etc. in cursive beginning in second semester of 3rd grade.

 

[mhsjax]

They still "teach" it to our kids, but that is about it. There is no need for it really. Everyone uses computers, paper is almost non existent. I mean really, kids can't even spell these days because all they do is text in texting lingo. Cursive handwriting isn't even a blip on the radar screen anymore.

Not saying I agree with it, but it is just the way it is.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I agree-most companies are trying to go paperless, heck our SCHOOL is going mostly paperless. It think it is a good thing and quite honestly, it is a HECK of a lot easier to type a paper then it is to handwrite one .

That is true, but to ME a handwritten letter, as opposed to an email, means about 10x more.

Gee, I would feel so thrilled to get an email as thank you for a gift.

 

[mhsjax]

That is true, but to ME a handwritten letter, as opposed to an email, means about 10x more.

Gee, I would feel so thrilled to get an email as thank you for a gift.

Hey be thankful for the e-mail, nest you will be getting a text written in text language or how about a message on your (if you have one) face book acct.
(note sarcasm)

I do understand what you are saying. Some things should still be taught. Some things should never go out of style.

 

[JoiseyMom]

DS9 is in 4th grade and learned cursive last year. At a certain point this year, all his work is going to have to be in cursive . Well his handwriting is horrible, both printing and cursive. DS really doesn't have the coordination to do it. I also don't want to have to force a very bright child (in anything but handwriting) to have to do something that we feel is unnecessary. We plan on having it added to his IEP that it not be a requirement for him. Whenever he has a report or project to be handed in, he types it in word and prints it out. If there is a form, he cuts and pastes it onto the form. This way everyone can read what he wrote!

He could very well grow up to be a doctor!!

 

[castleview]

My kids learned it in third grade and never used it again after that.

 

[MM27]

We don't teach cursive in my school. We did my first year, but with everything about testing now, that went out the window.

Every now and then, I will write something on the board in cursive and it never fails that someone will raise their hand and ask if I can write in English

I have a Smartboard in my room and one of the cool features of it is that you can print or write something in cursive on the board with the pen and it can turn it into type for you.

 

[sjs314]

They teach it for about half an hour in third grade now in our district. I was shocked.

I went to a catholic school with nuns who were obsessed with The Palmer Method. We spent untold hours for several years practicing handwriting.

However, my two kids have beautiful handwriting and mine is largely illegible, even to me. So I think there's something to not wasting a lot of time on it.

I will have nightmares tonight of staying after school with Sister Mary Regina sitting practicing my writing for weeks and weeks, it has been 48 years but I stilll cringe thinking about it , but I do think it should still be taught, what if there is a nuclear war and some survive and all the computers are distroyed , it will be back to cavemen like humans scratching out pictures to convey thought and spoken work

It is sinful that children can no longer do math in their heads like we were taught, I was at the pharmacy one day the clerk was telling me it was too early for my refill , I told her do the math, she stood there looking at me like a deer in headlights , so I began to explain it to her she had to get a calculator and good lord if a cashier happens to key in the wrong amount tendered , they can not give you back the change since they no longer know how to count it back

Is this progress ? I think not !

 

[JoiseyMom]

DS9 is in 4th grade and learned cursive last year. At a certain point this year, all his work is going to have to be in cursive . Well his handwriting is horrible, both printing and cursive. DS really doesn't have the coordination to do it. I also don't want to have to force a very bright child (in anything but handwriting) to have to do something that we feel is unnecessary. We plan on having it added to his IEP that it not be a requirement for him. Whenever he has a report or project to be handed in, he types it in word and prints it out. If there is a form, he cuts and pastes it onto the form. This way everyone can read what he wrote!

He could very well grow up to be a doctor!!

 

[sjs314]

Yes the school that I student taught at was Blue Ribbon....I honestly thought it (the school, not the award) was a joke though.

So, when you need to write a signature, these kids who will be adults in the future, will have to print their names instead of use cursive...weird!

Or Mark an X like people use to have to do when they could not read or write

 

[dimimi]

There are many things that we just don't need anymore. As a high school teacher, the kids NEED to know how to type. Almost every paper is handed in typed. I do agree, the kids need to know how to sign their names!

 

[JVL1018]

Cursive starts in 2nd here and continues on into 3rd. My son has been in school a week and had 2 cursive pages to do already. I don't think they spend class time on it, it's more of a homework thing, which is fine with me.