Cursive writing rapidly becoming passé

My writing is not necessarily cursive, but not, not cursive... lol It's a mixture of both. That's an interesting article.

Christina

Good thing I worked in a preschool for five years when my children were younger. I had to learn to use dnealian handwriting so I could teach the children as that is what is used in our school corporation. Then having two more children come along after that I just kept on using it and still do today. I'm one of the printers. I think at the most I still sign my name in cursive and even then my 'S' is in print. I've complained to the schools over the years about this very thing because I've seen it happen. My oldest two (31 & 30) have great handwriting, the third one (22) has good handwriting, even the younger two (13 & 9) are passable, considering they spend no time on handwritting skills at school. At least the school is still teaching dnealian which is so easy to move into cursive from. Sandy

what is dnealian handwriting?

I prefer my script (cursive) writing to my block (print) writing. Plus I try to be as neat as possible.

I think it is pathetic that the schools are forgoing a basic form of writing just because it is too hard to teach. i'm also old school as I know stenography even though it is now a mix of fast long hand and steno (not gregg another form). I'm dying to see Sarah's handwriting when she gets older. I get tickled now when I see her "art work" on my sister's fridge.

I love to see my great grandmother's, grandmother's, and mother's handwriting. It is like touching the past and touching their individuality. I especially love seeing my sister's early writing as it was so hard for her to write left to right. If wasn't for the arrow above her handwriting we wouldn't remember how far she came.

I'll type if necessary for a layout or so but hidden between Sarah's layouts are love notes from me to her in my handwriting.

xoxo Kate

I've actually had my cursive writing commented upon in my current job! My boss says she can't write cursive, and only is comfortable with printing - and I was surprised! I remember practicing and practicing and pracitcing cursive as a kid.

I have notice that cursive seems less and less apperant. You may be correct, Scout Lady, that in the future it will be a rare form of writing. Which is sad - I think it's a far more beautiful and expressive form of writing!

My 2 cents -

Jessica

a-scrapbook> I prefer my script (cursive) writing to my block (print) writing. Plus

I have to admit, I'm bad about combining my cursive with printing. LOL Both kids are learning the DNealian handwriting. DD, now in 3rd, is beginning to learn cursive! So far, it's better than her printing...very hard to believe that. LOL She hated learning to write, even in Kindergarten, and her printing shows it. So I honestly figured her cursive would be horrid, but it's completely the opposite. My sis teaches 3rd grade (different state) and when I shared that with her, she said she sees that a lot in her students. They can have the worst looking printing, but their cursive is just beautiful. Go figure!

Interesting article and subject!! My oldest learned to write the DNealian way. It was confusing at times for him and I, when helping him with his homework. His printing seemed to blend all the words together, and it looked like he wasn't separating his words, and it was because of the tails and loops on his letters. He had a hard time reading my writing,using the block printed letters as I was taught, versus his letters with tails on everything. There were times I left him a note in the morning, and he didnt understand it. weird! My oldest DS prints more than he uses cursive, and for reports for school they MUST be typed. My youngest DS in 5th grade has prettier cursive writing than printing. His teacher does rate them on their handwriting, and if she can't read it, she won't grade it!

I occasionally use cursive in my scrapbooks, but for legibility purposes I usually do a combination of printing and cursive, mostly printing. When I have ink for my printer..lol..I like to use my computer to journal!

L> It never occured to me that there are people who don't know how to write in

Interesting article. Never occured to me, either, that schools would stop (or close to it) teaching cursive writing. I taught keyboarding skills to 1st thru 8th graders back in the mid 80s, but back then, at least, cursive was still being taught as well.

Alicia

My brother has printed in block letters his entire life...

Look at it this way - how many people know how to read/write copperplate any more? And yet at one time it was the 'gold standard'... or how about middle-English with its long 'S's and letter substitutions. I've seen it in some of the older books on Distributed Proofreaders, and I can't read it at all! But it's not another language, it's theoretically English... Handwriting is always changing, and kids will always have trouble reading the older styles, but I'm sure they'll always be able to read and write in some form. Just call it evolution in action.

I remember being shocked in the sixth grade that my girlfriend who went to public school printed her homework because we were expected to use cursive from third grade on. Not much has changed around here, my children learned via Zaner Bloser and my grandson is in the fifth grade and learned via Zaner Bloser 2 years ago.

Those nuns made us rewrite things so many times that I can write equally well with both my right and left hands.

I have to agree here. I too use a mix a lot of time. Not exactly cursive, but not exactly print either. I wasn't aware of the lack of cursive being taught. I'm 31 and it was just a normal thing when I was coming up. I was taught cursive, I think I they started with us in about the 3rd grade. My nephew is 6 and he wants to write his name in cursive so badly he can't stand it. I will have to check and see if our school will be teaching cursive or just Dnelian... Hmmm..

Ang.

I use some of both cursive and block. Our school teaches Dnelian in grade 2 and cursive in grade 3. They use the Dnelian as a bridge between block printing and cursive. My DH only uses cursive to sign his name. He hates how jis cursive looks and would much rather print.

I am in WA state, Seattle area and my son is in the 6th grade. He's gone to 6 different schools since Kindergarten and none of them teach cursive. He wants to learn it because he cannot read what the rest of the family rights (we all use cursive). He's only ever been taught to write with block letters which looks juvenile and takes much more execution time (than cursive once mastered). So I am teaching him at home. And, hopefully, he will be skilled enough to teach his children and so on as the scrapbooks continue being passed generation to generation allowing each to read and understand our lives.

Melissa in Seattle

HI.

People have been asking what Dnealian is. I did an "ask.com" search and came up with this:

Happily not all states are teaching block style writing (printing) and doing without script (cursive) writing. My nieces in NC are learning both. Hopefully when Sarah goes to school she will be taught both. Just because it is hard to teach shouldn't mean schools should disregard a way of writing that has been established since the dawn of the Roman empire.

Kate

Cursive realy isn't that hard. Maybe all it will take is practice, practice, practice for him to get it. It shouldn't be that bad. I would write out a few sheets with just the alphabets and have him practice those for a few days, then write a few words, maybe start with his name, this way he will get the feel for connecting the letters. Just my

2 cents.

HTH Ang.