Cursive Foiled Again!

Picture this:

Your child, let’s call her Lois,  is taking her road test, and this scenario takes place:

“Excuse me, I’ll just need your signature for this driver’s license,” said the clerk. You’ll need to sign at the bottom. The clerk takes out a big pen and points to where she must sign.

Lois whispers,  “I don’t have one?”

Congratulations

Lois passed her road test and can now drive, but she has dyslexia and is still confused. She already has an ice cream headache from trying to remember her signs and has used most of her energy for the test. They decide on a scribble, and now, she can drive. 

Cursive is that connection.

Cursive requires a different way of thinking.  Often, those students who have dyslexia need to connect their letters, and the script connects words.   It is a way of organizing words and phrases and allows students to understand words.  Technology activates one side of the brain, which may make learning more difficult for a dyslexic student.  (According to a 2014 study, cursive writing may help with dyscalculia.*) Cursive writing requires the brain's motor cortex to operate, so you are automatically stimulating this part of the brain by writing in cursive. 

Do we need Cursive?

With cursive handwriting being phased out of schools, there is no personalized signature anymore, which creates more confusion for dyslexic learners. There are more stories like this one, and a generation will never know how to truly express themselves with cursive. This begs the question, what price no cursive? Writing helps us all remember what we have written, a way to retain facts that keyboarding can not come close to.

How we lost cursive 

It’s easy to lose something essential to us; just don’t fight for it. And that’s what happened with cursive. In the mid-90s, our society created a new and easy form of communication. We were saving money on stamps and enjoying the freedom that came with it. Then, sending texts was introduced; people began using their laptops for school and college. They were even taking tests directly through their computers and laptops. As libraries transitioned into the digital age, almost everything that was once stored on microfiche was converted to a digital format. The simple act of addressing an envelope was lost; now, it is hard to find a high school student who knows how to do this. However, students still learn printing or lettering, but that is just to take notes when computers are unavailable. 

The Art of Cursive

The ability to read historical documents and letters is the key to why we still need to learn cursive.  Nonetheless,  cursive is being phased out of the classroom in over half of the US states. This is primarily due to the No Child Left Behind Act. It states that cursive is not necessary and can be confusing to learners. The standard print lettering and keyboarding have been replaced. In 2020, 21 states still required students to learn cursive, with some states mandating it by the 5th grade. Keyboarding and technology are very important; however, if you are in a state that does not teach them, take the time to show your child. It may be just the connection to help your child with dyslexia and other children.

A Sense of Pride

Even with many people questioning its value, I recall a time when beautiful handwriting was considered an actual work of art. There was a particular pride and esteem that went with it, particularly in letter writing or decorations. It is something that keyboarding, even with a pretty font or italicizing, simply can not replace. And printing that emoji can not even come close.

Joined-up handwriting

What is called cursive here in the US, joined-up handwriting, has been taught in the UK and remained an essential part of their curriculum for years. Although its purpose is also being questioned in the UK, many other countries continue to teach and use it.

Your Hidden Character Traits

Handwriting experts argue that your handwriting reveals everything about the self. In the science of graphology, notes are compared in crimes to see if a person can be identified through their handwriting. Additionally, an excellent way to measure a decision for a person of importance in your life is the way you write; it reveals so much about your inner self.  And how will we measure that now?