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

[ilovepete]

Yeah I have heard this the last few months and I think it's kind of odd! We are homeschooling though and will be teaching it.

 

[punkin]

Now that you mention that...there is a section on the SATs that needs to be copied in cursive stating that the student is the one supposed to be taking the test and is not cheating (or something like that). My older two hated having to write that much in cursive.

Yes, that's the one. DD was laughing about all these super-advanced, applying only to Ivy League schools, retaking the SATs because they only got 2350, being stumped by copying a short passage.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

We just moved from a blue ribbon school district in NJ and the kids did learn cursive in grammar school but in middle school it was preferred for them to print. Now that we have moved to PA, my 7th grader is expected to write in cursive, which he is but it is not as neat as it could be.

I always wondered why they were not writing in cursive...

 

[Bilberry]

I never learned cursive, formally. When a kid living in California my family moved to Florida around the time I would have learned cursive in my California school. In Florida all the kids my age had already learned how to write that way.

In a way though I was lucky in that Apple home computers had just come out. My father was one of the first to own one in the neighborhood. So I was probably the first student to learn how to type his homework. My teachers loved it!

I can write in cursive today. I figured it out on my own. Other than signing my name, I hardly use it. I suppose cursive learning wouldn't be a bad skill to have, but overall not all that helpful in todays world, I think.

I prefer typing and reading type. As a hobby I work in genealogy and have gone through probably a dozen old diaries and can't make out what is being said to often because of poor legibility. It would have been nicer if people typed more in the past.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

A Blue Ribbon school is on that has earned recognition nationally as being a school of excellence. Our schools here, elementary, middle and high school are all blue Ribbon schools and they can put that on their stationary and have signs around the school stating such.

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!

 

[punkin]

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!

DD is in a Blue Ribbon School. The principal reminds us of this fact repeatedly. In fact over the past 6 years (I have had 2 in this school), every time I listened to her speak or read a letter that she wrote, I was reminded of the fact (or maybe more accurately bludgeoned by the fact) that my children were lucky enough to be in a BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL!!!!!!

 

[cristit14]

I think my kids started learning it in 3rd grade towards the end of the year and then it was required 4th through 6th grade for all of their assignments. I don't think they require it once they hit middle and high school though.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I think they need to teach enough cursive that kids can read it and sign their names (which honestly takes about 5 minutes to learn if that) but otherwise I really do not see that it is a very relevant skill anymore.

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.

You have not met my 13 year old. She writes long letters and paper (and long emails that have the same formal style as a paper letter) all the darned time. I have never known someone to correspond the way she does The letters are all PRINTED though--other than her signature. I am as confused as everyone else as to why real letters can only be in cursive

Oh and here is the website if anyone is interested in more on Blue Ribbon Schools:
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/awards.html

 

[Bethenny]

My kids learn it and funny enough my son's handwriting is better than his printing. I, for one, never use cursive, aside from my signature. And any important letter I would write (like say a resume) will be printed from a computer.

 

[diznygirl]

A Blue Ribbon school is on that has earned recognition nationally as being a school of excellence. Our schools here, elementary, middle and high school are all blue Ribbon schools and they can put that on their stationary and have signs around the school stating such.

After paying $5000 for the privilege of being "evaluated."

We are going through this currently (and I agree with the poster who thinks it's a joke).

No ribbons yet and our students are being taught cursive.

 

[PaulaSue]

It starts at 2nd grade and one here...

 

[scrapquitler]

I can't begin to tell you how sad this makes me. We have already lost the art of communication in "real" letters because it is easier just to email or text someone... but what a real shame it will be when our kids CAN'T write a letter because THEY DON'T KNOW HOW.

Have any of you had this happen to your kids, yet?

I wonder if parents thought this when they stopped teaching calligraphy??

 

[momof1princess]

my DD was taught cursive, beginning in 2nd grade, if i recall correctly, but she ALWAYS hated it, and refused to use it. she prints everything, and gets along just fine. she's in 7th grade and makes As and Bs in school. her teachers (public school) don't seem to have an issue with her lack of cursive. they do type a lot, but certainly write more. i don't think writing will ever become obsolete, but using cursive might-i volunteered 2 days a week in DD's 3rd grade class, and several of her classmates were still having problems with it and were very frustrated.

 

[minniecarousel]

My 28 and 30 year old sons print. I think they learned cursive, but I don't recall ever seeing it.

As long as kids can communicate in writing, I don't care if it's cursive or printing.

 

[C.Ann]

no one under the age of 30 writes real letters any more anyway which is why they no longer teach cursive.

Another sweeping generalization.. Three of the people I currently correspond with are under the age of 30 - mid to late 20's.. There are thousands of people out there - of all age groups - who still write "real" letters - and more often than not, in cursive.. People who don't write real letters obviously wouldn't know that though..

Then there are the long hand-written letters that people write to the troops overseas.. You know that there are groups of people who do this - right? People who have never even met these soldiers, but want to be sure they receive letters at mail call??

Oh - and don't forget the entire Amish culture - handwritten letters are how they communicate with family members living farther than a comfortable buggy ride away..

I could go on and on, but the point is handwritten letters are not nearly us "obsolete" as you think..
------------------------------------------

OP: Our schools still teach cursvie - and some teachers insist upon it after the third grade.. There are many things that are no longer being taught in favor of more technoligcal advantages that will serve to make students less intelligent - as opposed to more intelligent.. If our world of technology "crashed" tomorrow, I would hate to think what the outcome would be.. With no "back up plan" (having learned how to do basic skills without these technological advances) about the only people who probably wouldn't even notice and could still go about their day in a normal fashion would likely be the Amish.. LOL..

 

[SandrA9810]

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 guess it's only old foggies that know what a stamp is today too, and they're the only ones that complain when the price of a stamp goes up.

I think it's necessary. You're going to deal with all of people after school is over. And some will write in cursive, others print. Not everything is typed.
I can write in lower case cursive, but I've forgotten some of the upper case letters. But I have no problem reading it.

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

My DS12 is in 6th grade and I just realized last week that he doesn't know cursive. I was suprised, but not too bothered by it.

 

[Robinrs]

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!

My son had serious writing issues as a child and went to occupational therapy for years. His handwriting only became legible in middle school. I was told that he was on the list to receive a laptop.... I was shocked. The administrators told me that kids just don't WRITE anymore.

I personally do NOT miss it.

 

[SandrA9810]

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.

 

[dejr_8]

I guess it's only old foggies that know what a stamp is today too, and they're the only ones that complain when the price of a stamp goes up.

I think it's necessary. You're going to deal with all of people after school is over. And some will write in cursive, others print. Not everything is typed.
I can write in lower case cursive, but I've forgotten some of the upper case letters. But I have no problem reading it.

Give it no more than 20 years and I doubt we will even have postal service.