Teaching cursive is dying?

[keybug55]

Why do schools think that cursive is a dying art? People say that it's because we use the keyboard on computers. But what about when we're filling in a job application or writing our signature? I was only taught cursive once (in Kindergarten or something...I forget) and I wish I was taught more (or at least how to write my name in cursive).

Anyone else's thoughts?

 

[Midoriya]

It's kind of pointless nowadays. I don't know how to write cursive. They tried to teach it to me in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade and it was too hard for me. I can only print, and even that takes too long since I press down on the lead. It takes me a lot longer to print than other people. If you looked at my middle school math journal you'd see a bunch of equations lining the page written in some sort of cartoonish bold font (yes, my writing is so weird that it has its own name). I was the third fastest typer in middle school, and got the only award I had when in public school from my keyboarding class. Typing is much easier for me, and I can type an average of 5,000 words in an hour.
EDIT: I can type a book much faster than almost any author can write or type it. Strangely enough, I'm not interested in English for a career, as it's my least favorite subject.

 

[Dustbunnii]

Well, cursive is "dying" because it's sort of irrelevant now.
It was intended to be a quicker way of writing, but typing has taken its place from what I can tell.

I was taught cursive and in certain grades I was required to use it instead of print. Around high school I was given the choice again so I printed... up until I saw someone else using cursive and then I started writing in cursive again because of how pretty it could look.
I also use it because it's not generally used anymore and because it's not really taught in schools anymore. The future generations will look at my handwriting and will sit there, looking oh-so-puzzled.

And I will laugh.

 

[Leanne]

Learning cursive was part of my elementary school's curriculum. They teach it to us the moment we learn to write, and we are forced to use cursive until 6th. Then you can write as you find it more comfortable.

As much as I love writing, I don't understand the big deal around cursive writing. Sometimes it comes out nice, sometimes it's just a method to write faster. One of my teachers called it an art. I really don't think cursive is "needed" other than for "cultural" reasons and if you are into it, as technology is finding its place more and more inside schools to make writing faster.

 

[Midoriya]

I really don't need cursive to make anything look 'pretty' anyway. I can just write in my cartoonish bold font, and then people will be more amazed than old-school cursive. Also, if I use it on a signature, it looks better than cursive. Besides, what are they going to do? Fire me for not using cursive? They would be missing a great chance to have someone with a high IQ. LOL

 

[Bones]

It's honestly a major pain for me to read, too. Especially if the person in question already has sloppy writing.

People should really just type everything at this day in age (not counting those who can't, obviously). It's so much easier to read and write once you get accustomed it to.

 

[oath2order]

It's kind of pointless nowadays. I don't know how to write cursive. They tried to teach it to me in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade and it was too hard for me. I can only print, and even that takes too long since I press down on the lead. It takes me a lot longer to print than other people. If you looked at my middle school math journal you'd see a bunch of equations lining the page written in some sort of cartoonish bold font (yes, my writing is so weird that it has its own name). I was the third fastest typer in middle school, and got the only award I had when in public school from my keyboarding class. Typing is much easier for me, and I can type an average of 5,000 words in an hour.
EDIT: I can type a book much faster than almost any author can write or type it. Strangely enough, I'm not interested in English for a career, as it's my least favorite subject.

83.33 words a minute?

I don't remember learning cursive >.>

 

[Stevey Queen]

Yah the only cursive letter I know is S and I make it look like crap. Cursive is stupid anyways. It's sloppy and complicated. I like normal writing. People watch me sign things and they are like "that's your signature?" And I'm just like "yah idk cursive. Get over yourself."

 

[Colour Bandit]

I learnt to write in cursive in Primary school but now I write in a strange mix between cursive and print. My signature is basically me writing my first name and surname really quickly, pen not leaving the paper and in cursive- it looks quite odd but nobody questions it. I'm an averaged speed typer, I type faster on a phone screen rather than on a tablet or computer, but quickly enough to type up my handwritten essays (normally 2,000 to 4,000 words) in an hour or less on a computer. (Looking forward to having Word on my phone, essays will get typed up in a flash! )

 

[Celestefey]

I write cursively too. ^^ I was taught it in year 1 and year 2 (so from ages 5 - 7 years old) and my teacher made everyone write in cursive. In all honesty, you people might say cursive looks sloppy but it's a quicker way of writing and if you do have nice handwriting anyway it does look really pretty. Plus if you were kind of taught properly or from a younger age you'd find it came naturally. Even all the kids in my class who had "untidy" handwriting had neater handwriting when they started writing in cursive. As soon as that teacher left and we went into year 3, everyone just went back to writing in print and normally again. I don't see the point! Writing in cursive is so much quicker which is important if you're writing in exams and stuff (so often I'm finished pretty early :x), because you can't really use computers then (unless.. you need to use them xD). It's pretty funny how I was probably one of the fastest writers in my class (and probably still am now) and also one of the fastest typers too (not to brag, but that's probably one of my only talents :L). I don't know. Maybe it just depends on your writing style. It just depends on what you personally prefer.

 

[Jeremy]

Cursive is useless these days other than signing your name. And everyone has a different style when it comes to that.

 

[Dustbunnii]

I write cursively too. ^^ I was taught it in year 1 and year 2 (so from ages 5 - 7 years old) and my teacher made everyone write in cursive. In all honesty, you people might say cursive looks sloppy but it's a quicker way of writing and if you do have nice handwriting anyway it does look really pretty. Plus if you were kind of taught properly or from a younger age you'd find it came naturally. Even all the kids in my class who had "untidy" handwriting had neater handwriting when they started writing in cursive. As soon as that teacher left and we went into year 3, everyone just went back to writing in print and normally again. I don't see the point! Writing in cursive is so much quicker which is important if you're writing in exams and stuff (so often I'm finished pretty early :x), because you can't really use computers then (unless.. you need to use them xD). It's pretty funny how I was probably one of the fastest writers in my class (and probably still am now) and also one of the fastest typers too (not to brag, but that's probably one of my only talents :L). I don't know. Maybe it just depends on your writing style. It just depends on what you personally prefer.

This right here.
A lot of my college exams require writing a full essay to answer a question, so being able to write quickly is essential.
Taking notes in class can also be a chore if you can't write quickly (though I suppose most teachers would allow you to type them out. I just remember things better if I write them out).

So in those scenarios, cursive could be pretty handy.

As someone majoring in historic preservation, I find it interesting to know that one day cursive writing may become obsolete and that it may only be found in an archive in the form of handwritten notes, journals, or letters. There are a lot of scripts and methods of writing that are that way now, and it's only natural for it to happen.

 

[superheroantics]

I can write in print pretty quickly in print. But then again this is coming from a guy who could type 40wpm with 4 fingers.

 

[SockHead]

I was taught cursive in 2nd grade and didn't use it up until 8th grade, where my Social Studies teacher MADE us write cursive IN PEN. So yeah, I can write in cursive pretty well.

 

[easpa]

In my current school, teachers tell us not to write in cursive for whatever reason. I suppose it can be hard to read at times. :/

 

[bittermeat]

In the 3rd grade, my teacher taught us how to write in cursive and said that cursive would be the only writing allowed in the future of our academic years. What a liar. I already graduated from high school, not once did I ever have to use cursive for an assignment. The teachers I had preferred if students did NOT write in cursive because most of people's cursive is sloppy and illegible.

 

[Midoriya]

83.33 words a minute?

I don't remember learning cursive >.>

Yep, I'm a speed freak when it comes to typing.

 

[Officer Berri]

I learned to use cursive and I hated it. It took longer to write out and all was stupid.

My signature isn't even in full cursive. It's more like printed-and-never-picking-up-the-pencil. My last name is almost illegible.

Cursive is only used for signatures in real life anyway. That and that one time a teacher feels like being a tool and making you write an essay in cursive using a pen and only using the front side of your lined paper. "What's that? You messed up a letter? START OVER. You're not allowed to use white out. I stubbed my toe on the tree in my front yard and I'm taking it out on his people."

 

[SoraSmiles]

It is pretty pointless in my own opinion. Some teachers use it some don't. I'm 23 years old and I was taught cursive over a span of 2 weeks in the 4th grade and thats its. I can sign my name and thats about it though I can still read it mostly. I've been taking classes off and on in college since I was 19 and I can honestly say not many teachers themselves use it anymore It's just pointless to me cause the only reason for it is that it looks pretty..

 

[kittenrobotarmy]

I was taught cursive is 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade. I know every single letter, upper and lower, except for uppercase G. It's being replaced by computers, naturally, but back in the day? Cursive was seriously popular. I mean, look at how the Declaration of Independence was written.