The Dying Art of Cursive Writing
While sitting at the girls’ symphony chair placement auditions a couple weeks ago, I couldn’t help but listen to the teenagers on the bench across from me chat about all kinds of things. Most of it was idle chit chat; typical teenage banter and not noteworthy in any way.
Then one of the girls said something that made me sad. She said she couldn’t write anything in cursive except her first name. I posted on Facebook my total dismay about their comments.
“Listening to a group of teenagers talking about not knowing how to write in cursive – except their first name. How sad. It’s such a beautiful way to put words on paper. I wonder if this is how people felt when calligraphy became a dying art form.”
A couple people responded that their kids learned it, but most weren’t shocked by the statement. Cursive writing was part of the curriculum all the way until I went to high school at which time typing and calligraphy took over. I remember being in junior high and having to write, in cursive, homework assignments. Being the pack rat that I am, I may still have some of my favorite pieces of work. Whenever there is something to write, I proudly admire the flare and flourishes that make handwriting so beautiful.
I encourage my girls to write in cursive when the opportunities arise. Unfortunately, that generally only happens when they write thank you notes. Any other time, it’s a mixed bag of printing and pseudo-cursive. I’ve even gone so far as to encourage them to try calligraphy to help them learn there’s more to communication than what transpires on a digital device of some kind. Not only is a handwritten note greatly appreciated, but the added detail of carefully crafted handwriting shows it had your attention during the process.
Alas, I seldom see them putting pen to paper unless it’s a worksheet that needs to be filled out for school. You cannot imagine how happy it made me when Kennedy requested books and a lettering kit for her birthday! I walked into the room the evening of her birthday to see one of the books open and her meticulously tracing the samples with her new pens. It is my hope that she’ll use continue to work on these skills and use them regularly.
While I don’t expect her to give up her email in exchange for letter-writing, I’m glad there are kids that may keep the art of cursive writing alive. If you – or your children – don’t know how to write in cursive, pick them up a book to learn how. Then encourage them to use their newfound skills!
How often do you write in cursive?
Just recently I read a post saying that cursive writing wasn’t even taught In the school that this particular bloggers children attended. I was and am still in shock over it. I sincerely am. My daughters learned how to write cursive however they are like you stated, only use it for thank you notes.
Most school districts in NJ,where I live don’t teach cursive writing anymore. This is because of changes in the curriculum that forces other things to be taught instead.
Such a decision is made by the members of the board of education of each school district.
Please don’t blame the lack of teaching cursive(script) writing on the teachers.
I don’t get it. Cursive writing is so beautiful. It seems it’s a talent nowadays! Technoogy has forced some of us to not even write at all. I remember back in my days, we had to write, and write and write til we got it right! I still write my thank you notes by hand. It’s such a personal touch.
I remember while being in school we had to learn cursive, but now I don’t even think they teach it. Seems it would be important when having to sign documents or the outdated “checks”. I love that your daughter asked for a lettering kit for her birthday!
My daughter is in 5th grade and they aren’t even being taught cursive. I think it is a huge mistake to not teach it in schools, that and common core. They’ve really mucked up our education system.
That’s an interesting thought about cursive being like caligraphy. I think it’s so crazy that they’re not teaching it everywhere anymore!
While cursive may be going away, I think beautiful hand lettering will always be around. I love to play with hand lettering. I think it gives that special, personalized touch to the things that you write.
I think it is too bad that cursive writing is no longer part of the curriculum in most schools. It is truly a lost art.
I will make sure that my kids know how to read/write in cursive, if for no other reason than I want them to be able to read their own country’s historical documents.
That’s an amazing thought, Josh. I hadn’t even considered that fact about our country’s historical documents!
I think it will be a lost art, like journals and notebooks that are not electronic. 🙁
I only write in cursive when signing my name.
My granddaughter is now learning cursive in school. The school district has just begun to incorporate it again.
Not incredibly often, as nobody else can read it
Rarely, Unless my signature counts. Then This morning.
Basically only for my signature. I’m not sure why though. Never really thought about it.
I rarely write in cursive anymore. The last time was when I signed my name on a credit card receipt about 2 weeks ago. I remember this because they had a box for “clean” pens and a box for “dirty” pens.
Almost every time I write anything . It was kind of forced everywhere when I was young .
Only to sign documents!
I use it for fun every once in a while. I find it enjoyable. It doesn’t surprise me that it’s not taught in schools because really… it’s not a very legible form of writing. It is neat though! Also, the band Cursive is rad.
Usually, I use cursive when I am writing in my journal during prayer. It helps me to slow down, and really acknowledge what I’m thinking, feeling, and praying, and to recognize what God the Father and Son is telling me.
I write in cursive whenever I use my signature.
When I make out cards or letters to family I always write
I rarely write in cursive, Only to sign documents.
I try to write in cursive when I can, I also think it is super sad that kids don’t learn this skill anymore. Cursive is a beautiful way of writing words! I need to get some new pens and workbooks for my daughter so she can learn as well.
Writing ✍️ in cursive is an art!! I have seen some beautiful writing!! I received a baby shower invitation this year. I found out that the inside of the card was handwritten in cursive!!
The invitations were beautifully personalized in cursive writing ✍️ It would be a shame to loose this institution
I write in cursive 75% of the time
I write everything in cursive. I prefer it over written form. Ever since I learned it when I was young I never stopped. I love it, it’s beautiful
Very true My 24 year old was taught in school, but the 21 and 19 year olds were not;