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

[HeyMickeyUSoFine]

I never liked writing in cursive and have always printed even though I know cursive.

I'm the same way. However, I was disappointed when I learned my child's school briefly touched on it in the 3rd grade. After that, they could write any way they choose. I remember being forced to write in cursive in some classes up through high school. I think cursive is almost an artform, and I'm sorry to see it disappear.

 

[hereyago]

Cursive is going the way of Shorthand did in my DM's time of learning, out the window.


Just as I took typing in high school, with a real typewriter and a piece of paper over the keys so you had to memorize where the letters were, the computer with word pad or whatever and spell check is now in my DD12 learning experience.

Just like spelling words, I think either 4th or 5th grade the spelling tests stopped for DD. But, the teachers expect the students to correctly spell words for reports,etc still by either spell check or dictionary.

 

[SandrA9810]

It's sad to think that people don't have an autograph/signature anymore. I knew a few people with scribbles, but they just chose to be lazy.

My aunt has two signatures. One is her more common signature, which she created back when we were in school so no one could "forge" her signature on documents. I'll admit, I spent a lot of time learning my mother's.
Her original, that she doesn't use often, is her full name.

I can't stand scribble scrabble signatures. Even though I usually here the excuse of "it makes it harder to copy". Which really it doesn't. Some one would have to learn the penmanship style of another to copy a real signature. Scribble is easy to copy without learning the penmanship.

 

[luvsJack]

Cursive is going the way of Shorthand did in my DM's time of learning, out the window.


Just as I took typing in high school, with a real typewriter and a piece of paper over the keys so you had to memorize where the letters were, the computer with word pad or whatever and spell check is now in my DD12 learning experience.

Just like spelling words, I think either 4th or 5th grade the spelling tests stopped for DD. But, the teachers expect the students to correctly spell words for reports,etc still by either spell check or dictionary.

This is much worse than not learning cursive. Spelling is important, you cannot always rely on spell check. I work at a computer all day long but I still need to know how to spell! I am one of the few employees on our campus that are always called on to proof read important letters, emails, etc. You would be shocked at the folks that cannot spell anymore. The English language is too complex to depend on spell check. As long as its a word, spell check won't catch that its the wrong word. Using a dictionary is a great skill (one I have to work on dd with because they don't use them in her school), but you still have to have an idea of what you are looking for to find your word.

DD (12) is taking a computer class that is teaching word processing, spreadsheets, powerpoint, and data base. They will find all the useful sites on the internet for doing research and have the basics on using the computer. But, even with this class their Language teacher finds it necessary to give them spelling words/tests, hand write some of their shorter essays without the use of the computer except for research. She also lets them use the computer for some things, let spell/grammer check tell them something is wrong and then has them correct it on their own.

The English comp instructor at the community college I work for was thrilled when I told him all of this. He said he is shocked every year at the few skills the students come to his class with. He says that too many students depend on spell/grammar check so much that they don't realize how many mistakes they have made. He says he is really saddened seeing so many students get to a college level and cannot spell or write a correct sentence without a computer saying how to spell the word or telling them they have written a sentence fragment.

 

[phorsenuf]

It's sad to think that people don't have an autograph/signature anymore. I knew a few people with scribbles, but they just chose to be lazy.

My aunt has two signatures. One is her more common signature, which she created back when we were in school so no one could "forge" her signature on documents. I'll admit, I spent a lot of time learning my mother's.
Her original, that she doesn't use often, is her full name.

I can't stand scribble scrabble signatures. Even though I usually here the excuse of "it makes it harder to copy". Which really it doesn't. Some one would have to learn the penmanship style of another to copy a real signature. Scribble is easy to copy without learning the penmanship.

I don't think it really matters though, does it? Most stores don't even require a signature for debit card transactions and I remember many times having my check filled out by Wal-marts computer and it would go through the bank unsigned because they would forget to have me do that.

I suppose on important contracts it could make a difference but by the time you are signing those they already know who you are and have seen ID. So what does it matter what the signature looks like.

 

[tjevans]

What cursive does for you is give you a FAST way to write legibly. Printing normally is much slower than longhand. I don't ask for pretty cursive unless you just want to do that for fun; any style is find as long as it is legible.

What I find is the acid test is the essay portion of the SAT. It's timed and you don't get a keyboard -- how exactly do you plan to handle that if you cannot write quickly and legibly by hand?

Cursive gives me a fast way to write illegibly. I literally cannot read my cursive if its contents have passed from short-term memory. What typing does for you is gie you a FASTER way to write much more legibly than cursive.

When I took the SAT, it didn't have an essay, but I did take the AP test. From what I remember (it's been 20+ years), I did it in print and had plenty of time. Also, in law school, I had a few professors who wouldn't allow you to type the exam. I printed those because I knew the professor wouldn't be able to read my writing.

I have a feeling the people who would be offended to receive a printed thank you note or, heaven forbid, a thank-you email, are the same people who would never give cash for a gift. (To me, it's more thoughtful to do that when you don't know what the recipient wants than to presume you know what they want).

 

[tjevans]

Nope, not old fashioned, you just realize that everything new is not always best. I would be mortified to ever receive a thank you note or a sympathy note via e mail. How tacky. IMHO

I bet you probably also say, "it's not the gift, it's the thought that counts." If that's true, why is the medium important rather than being able to express the thought in a legible and cogent manner?

 

[penn19]

This is much worse than not learning cursive. Spelling is important, you cannot always rely on spell check. I work at a computer all day long but I still need to know how to spell! I am one of the few employees on our campus that are always called on to proof read important letters, emails, etc. You would be shocked at the folks that cannot spell anymore. The English language is too complex to depend on spell check. As long as its a word, spell check won't catch that its the wrong word. Using a dictionary is a great skill (one I have to work on dd with because they don't use them in her school), but you still have to have an idea of what you are looking for to find your word.

DD (12) is taking a computer class that is teaching word processing, spreadsheets, powerpoint, and data base. They will find all the useful sites on the internet for doing research and have the basics on using the computer. But, even with this class their Language teacher finds it necessary to give them spelling words/tests, hand write some of their shorter essays without the use of the computer except for research. She also lets them use the computer for some things, let spell/grammer check tell them something is wrong and then has them correct it on their own.

The English comp instructor at the community college I work for was thrilled when I told him all of this. He said he is shocked every year at the few skills the students come to his class with. He says that too many students depend on spell/grammar check so much that they don't realize how many mistakes they have made. He says he is really saddened seeing so many students get to a college level and cannot spell or write a correct sentence without a computer saying how to spell the word or telling them they have written a sentence fragment.

At my kids school, they no longer give spelling tests. Their philosophy is that they need to sound out the words, and write the way it sounds, and THEN eventually they will figure out how to spell it correctly. What?!

I don't get it at all. I have a junior in hs and he cannot spell very well at all. My younger ones are better, but I also (I know, bad mom) took it upon myself to spend more time with them after I figured out that the school wasn't helping, on how to spell.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

But can you diagram a sentence?

Actually, I never thought that was important.

 

[ilovejack02]

But can you diagram a sentence?

Actually, I never thought that was important.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH !! I actually just shuddered at the thought.

 

[disneymom3]

Again--no one seems to be able to cite any study that truly says cursive is My kids have attended two German schools. They are required to write with Fullers which are old fashioned looking ink pens (with cartridges) that have the calligraphy looking metal nibs on them (I wish I knew how to post a photo that is not from my computer, but rather from the internet, as an example). .

Is this it?

 

[NHdisneylover]

But can you diagram a sentence?

Actually, I never thought that was important.

I dis not learn how to until college, but I am just sick and twisted enough to think diagramming sentences is fun

Is this it?

Nice work--yes. Not with shiny metal cases for the school kids though DD's has dolphins on it and DS's has guitars (the cheap ones run about 10 Euro each--so losing your pen is NOT going to fly here).

 

[Glenn]

For the record I'm in my late 50s. Can you survive with only being able to sign your name & print everything else? Yes you can but what will you give up? You certainly will not be able to read the originals of any of our historic documents like the Declaration of Independence (yes they have printed copies but it's not the same). More importantly I wonder how many family letters, diaries & other written memories will be tossed because they will not be able to be read by most. It will be such a shame for these to be lost. But then I think fewer & fewer bother about keeping the past alive. A few yrs ago I was at a estate sale & found a bag of letters & picture postcards sitting in the corner. Fellow there said take them if I wanted because they were going to trash them. Lots of mundane stuff but did find 2 cards sent home from DL from the first yr it was open . More importantly found a few civil war letters, one talked about seeing A. Lincoln on the steps of the White House & that he reviewed this fellows group a few days later. Sort of a shame to trash that.

 

[NHdisneylover]

For the record I'm in my late 50s. Can you survive with only being able to sign your name & print everything else? Yes you can but what will you give up? You certainly will not be able to read the originals of any of our historic documents like the Declaration of Independence (yes they have printed copies but it's not the same). More importantly I wonder how many family letters, diaries & other written memories will be tossed because they will not be able to be read by most. It will be such a shame for these to be lost. But then I think fewer & fewer bother about keeping the past alive. A few yrs ago I was at a estate sale & found a bag of letters & picture postcards sitting in the corner. Fellow there said take them if I wanted because they were going to trash them. Lots of mundane stuff but did find 2 cards sent home from DL from the first yr it was open . More importantly found a few civil war letters, one talked about seeing A. Lincoln on the steps of the White House & that he reviewed this fellows group a few days later. Sort of a shame to trash that.

I have brought this point up before in the thread but it seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle (or else everyone is just ignoring me): it is very possible to not WRITE cursive but still be able to read it. Few people are capable of writing in calligraphy and yet most can read that. People can nearly always READ more words than they can accurately spell. I really do not think we are risking losing the ability to read historical documents (and if SOME people cannot that is not such a big deal--most regular people never have the opportunity to handle/read originals of the types of documents you list).

 

[bellebud]

I have brought this point up before in the thread but it seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle (or else everyone is just ignoring me): it is very possible to not WRITE cursive but still be able to read it. Few people are capable of writing in calligraphy and yet most can read that. People can nearly always READ more words than they can accurately spell. I really do not think we are risking losing the ability to read historical documents (and if SOME people cannot that is not such a big deal--most regular people never have the opportunity to handle/read originals of the types of documents you list).

you brought it up to respond to one of my posts (way back)... you make an interesting point I hadn't thought about. I still feel the majority of people won't really be able to read it if they can't write it, but you could be right (and I actually hope you are). I just know my dd10 (who learned it when she was in school and writes in it all the time) can read letters/cards from relatives (who all write in cursive), but my ds9 (who I haven't taught it to yet) looks at the writing as if it's foreign. So I'm just going by my 2 kids. I just think if someone isn't exposed to it, they'll have a very hard time reading it.

 

[sjs314]

But can you diagram a sentence?

Actually, I never thought that was important.

I had not thought about diagraming sentences in ages but it did bring to mind one other practice which I am sure has long since been lost...............

Casting out nines to prove your math answer correct, oh the horror we had to endure years ago in school

 

[Becky2005]

ICasting out nines to prove your math answer correct, oh the horror we had to endure years ago in school

And here I sit wondering "what in the world is casting out nines?" Either I was never taught it or we called it something else but I don't really remember doing anything special with 9's. I don't think it affected my life too much at this point.

 

[Mimi1965]

I had not thought about diagraming sentences in ages but it did bring to mind one other practice which I am sure has long since been lost...............

Casting out nines to prove your math answer correct, oh the horror we had to endure years ago in school

I'm really old and dont remember "casting out nines" either?

But sentance diagrams.....

 

[bellebud]

Casting out nines to prove your math answer correct, oh the horror we had to endure years ago in school

what is casting out 9's?

 

[NHdisneylover]

I never learned casting out 9s but DD did (as part of an online 7h grade math class). It confused me to no end but she thought it was easy. I thought it was new