Will Cursive Writing Survive?

[Capt Worley PE]

Columbia (WLTX) - Many might say cursive writing is going out of style, but still some parents fear it isn't emphasized enough or even at all in school anymore.
It's not the case in 3rd grade teacher Linda Rose's room. If penmanship and cursive writing has ever excited a class, her's is the one.

"I love it because it's fun. It's just fun," said 3rd grader at Coughman Road Elementary Lauryn Lacewell with a smile.

The passion is passed on by their teacher. "You can write whatever you want in cursive and no one can take that from you, that's your special ability. No ones' signature is like your own," said Rose to her class.

Linda Rose has taught for many years. She says the focus has changed on how much time is spent on perfecting penmanship, but that it's still a vital part of her students' day. Despite the growing use of computers and other technology she believes cursive writing is still essential.

More: http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=80929#comments

 

[DVINNY]

Cursive is F'in stupid.

Period.

 

[DVINNY]

[SIZE=12pt]Do you see what I am saying? No need for this crap. [/SIZE]

 

[Capt Worley PE]

My cursive sucks. Always has.

 

[MechGuy]

Cursive should go out of style and never be taught again. Who writes anything in cursive anymore? Is it important to teach this style of writing just for your signature? People don't even use checks any more, and no one wants my autograph. My signature is just a bunch of scribbles anyway....

 

[csb]

The Air Force ruined my dad's ability to write anything in cursive. I remember when he'd write a note for school and it would be all print and think it was odd.

I use cursive sometimes, but it mostly serves to make me feel like a third grader. I remember in third grade thinking it was going to be SUPER AWESOME COOL to know cursive because it was something adults knew how to do.

 

[snickerd3]

i hate writing in cursive, not that my printing is legible either

 

[TouchDown]

I've always gotten poor penmanship grades - unless it's printed out. My cursive has some print characters in it, don't know why, they just were. I write in a mix - but if it's something that's going to be read by someone else, I usually print it (ie cards, letters, etc.). If it's my tech notebook that only I use, then I just write it out in cursive/print mix and it's just faster to record that way. My signature went from being able to read it in "cursive" to maybe recognizing the first character on each name and a squiggle. I sign so much crap that I don't take time anymore.

My kindergardner is EXCITED about the possibilities of cursive. OF course she spells "this" as "dis" right now, so who knows. And "you" as "uoo". it's cute.

 

[Santiagj]

I write in all print all caps. It makes it easier to read for everybody. I picked it up after a couple of years working at my job now. We do a lot of detailing and I would check/redline drawings. So it kinda stuck.

Don't all of us need to know basic cursive just for a unique signature? Unless we go down the biometric identification path.

I guess I could stamp a drawing and smear a little blood over it. Then date it.

 

[Flyer_PE]

My handwriting sucks. Thank God for keyboards.

 

[roadwreck]

I guess I could stamp a drawing and smear a little blood over it. Then date it.

Whoa! I really like that idea. The person at the register at the grocery store next week isn't going to know what to think.

But I don't think I fit all that on the little strip of space they give me on the back of my credit cards. :\

 

[Ble_PE]

I remember being so pumped to learn cursive as a kid, and now the only time I use it is when I'm making notes for myself since it's faster. I mostly write in print with all capitals now, just like Santiagj.

 

[Shaggy]

I agree with Santiagi, I write in all caps as well. Or at least smaller caps for the lower case letters. I am in favor of not only getting rid of cursive, but lower case as well... at least for handwriting.

 

[Santiagj]

Writing Standardization!

Lets face it... All engineers end up writing in all caps sooner or later due to the business of checking drawings. So why not give in and pick it up early?

Now I can write myself notes when I'm totally Sh!t faced and be able to read them in the morning.

We should start a poll to see what percentage of engineers write in all caps.

 

[buick455]

I stopped writing in 1986 when I went back to College for my ME degree as I could not read my writing so I started printing all my notes and have been printing ever sense. That was also before spell check, word, e-mail, etc. I remember being at work thinking it be great for a software to spell check a document as my spelling sucks.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I write in all print all caps. It makes it easier to read for everybody.

Yeah, me too.

Don't all of us need to know basic cursive just for a unique signature?

You could do this:

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_colum...revolution.html

 

[DVINNY]

I write in all print all caps.

X2

We should start a poll to see what percentage of engineers write in all caps.

I BET ALOT OF US DO IT.

 

[MA_PE]

On a serious note. Cursive writing is one of those things like art or literature. It's a classic that young developing minds should expereince. For grade school kids it demands a level of dexterity and requires use of the mind to try to make the best / neatest writing.

I don't use much of the poetry and classical literature that I was exposed to in school, either. Does that mean it should be dropped from the curriculum?

How about math multipication tables? Virtually every electronic gizmo available has a calculator function. Why bother memorizing the stupid tables?

My speed writing is a mix of printing and cursive. As a rule, I do not use all capitals.

 

[DVINNY]

I don't use much of the poetry and classical literature that I was exposed to in school, either. Does that mean it should be dropped from the curriculum?

Yes, It should be dropped. We have enough weeny-like artsy fartsy acedemia's running around already.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I don't use much of the poetry and classical literature that I was exposed to in school, either. Does that mean it should be dropped from the curriculum?

I thik it should be replaced with contemporary literature. That tired old crud really turns a lot of kids off from reading. I LOVE to read and I could barely slog thru Silly *** Mariner (Silas marner) and Great Expectorations.

There's a lot of cool books for kids out there. I'm with DV...save the artsy stuff for college if you decide to go that path.