The Loss of Cursive Writing: I'm still flabbergasted that cursive writing - script - is going the way of the buggy whip. Aside from not knowing how to write like that, people will not...

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The Loss of Cursive Writing

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Jun 24, 2019 06:17:43 #

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm still flabbergasted that cursive writing - script - is going the way of the buggy whip. Aside from not knowing how to write like that, people will not be able to read anything written in script. You know in the movies how they show a close-up of a letter that someone has written? That will look like gibberish to future generations. Like colorizing films, someone will have to add printed text to all those letters and notes.

Another big problem is the billions of historical documents written in script, although maybe future generations won't care about them. I'll have to look up how both writing styles came to exist at the same time, kinda like us and the Neanderthals.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-national-archives-has-billions-of-handwritten-documents-with-cursive-skills-declining-how-will-we-read-them/2019/06/14/cbc44028-5c92-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html?utm_term=.7bd12c0446df

Jun 24, 2019 06:26:20 #

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

This is so true Jerry. My mother went to Catholic school in Brooklyn NY and her handwriting
cursive was beautiful. I started a long time ago writing in caps that is all I can do now.
I have trouble signing my name cant make the letters well.

The thought of great docs and photos that will die on hard drives unprinted is a shame.
This is a good topic. Congrats to you. Tom

Jun 24, 2019 06:27:26 #

exakta56 Loc: Orford,New Hampshire

I agree with you. This isn't the first time that I have experienced a writing difficulty. My grandfather's letters to his wife in old German Gothic , circa 1900, are very difficult to decipher. So it would seem that follwing native generations in the old country would share the same challenge.

Jun 24, 2019 06:34:26 #

traderjohn Loc: New York City

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm still flabbergasted that cursive writing - scr... (show quote)

Sadly that is true. The proliferation of laptops/computers and cell phone were the death knell for "longhand".

Jun 24, 2019 06:35:28 #

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

I , of course use cursive,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I think the new is because people will be used to what the word processor does........SAd

Jun 24, 2019 06:40:23 #

Ollieboy

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm still flabbergasted that cursive writing - scr... (show quote)

I blame cell phones and computers. Texting and email only allow block letters. This generation has never picked up a pen or a pencil.

Jun 24, 2019 06:41:16 #

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

After retirement, I took teachers certification and taught for 3 years 9th grade Math/Science Special Education, not the profound, just the slow learning people in the normal classroom. I was amazed that cursive was not common in the general classroom population and when I would ask ... "where did you learn cursive"... the reply was "My Grandma taught me."

Some year ago, I took a class to get a OA_OC certification... week long... exam at the end... OUCH essay. I had no problem knowing the material, my problem was my hand would not work for two hours of "written-writing;" vs computer writing. My hand cramped doing a task that it had lost strength for. I had lost the art of Cursive Writing.

Jun 24, 2019 06:45:01 #

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

We can use it to protect ourselves.

Jun 24, 2019 07:02:59 #

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I have always regretted having been taught the plain and ugly Palmer method of cursive writing rather than the beautiful, ornate Spencer method. I still have the Montblanc fountain pen used by my father-in-law, but I don't use it. Now, email has taken the place of the lengthy hand-written letters I used to send to my friends.
https://www.thehenryford.org/explore/blog/handwriting-in-america/

Jun 24, 2019 07:46:49 #

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

This is LA.
The LAUSD had decided to further cater to the lowest denominator and remove cursive writing.
This also allowed paper and pencil cost cutting, while allowing more ESL type activities.
A few elections later, parents are finally realizing their kids are getting dumber.
They can't read, write, balance a checkbook etc. But get good grades anyway!
So, after a bit of backlash, the school board decided to take the credit to reverse itself on this:
https://abc7.com/education/proposal-to-reinstate-teaching-cursive-at-lausd-schools-gaining-support/5312495/

Jun 24, 2019 08:27:36 #