Should children learn how to write in cursive?

Should children learn how to write in cursive? Why?

I personally believe they should. It helps refine motor skills, and is part of our history/culture. It also helps them read things that may be in a fancy script in the future, and when personalized, looks really cool and unique, and is sort of a part of your identity/personality. It also trains you to write neater and quicker.

I am particularly interested in why some people think that we shouldn't have it...

asked Dec 07 '10 at 21:28

Nomad
511●3●7●20

edited Dec 07 '10 at 21:52

6 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

I think that kids should and in fact my 6 year old can't learn soon enough (I don't think they start teaching until next year in second grade). She prints beautifully (better than a lot of my colleagues) and can write her name in cursive pretty well.

I think cursive and penmanship in general are needed subjects. I think that it makes kids think about what they are writing. It also helps improve fine motor skills and dexterity. Finally, I am a pretty techy guy (bought an iPad the first week they came out) and although I look for every opportunity I can to use it, I still can't get away from having to take hand written notes.

answered Dec 07 '10 at 21:40

jprepp
556●5●10●16

Yes! I love hand writing things!

Whenever I am bored, I practice my handwriting to further refine/perfect it (silly I know). Now I get the usual comments that "I have girls' handwriting" even though I have a very masculine serif-type writing that I like...I also have many other personal handwriting-styles, some based on other cultures (such as the Celts), and many varieties of italics. In fact, one of my favorite email newsletters is the MyFonts one, but, I digress.

(Dec 07 '10 at 21:45) Nomad

1	ya I think kids should learn it because I was never taught it and now my signature's crap answered Dec 07 '10 at 21:34 zman 3.5k●15●26●82

I think a kid should be able to read it, but to write it idk, I think the class time should be spent more on learning how to type quickly.

Lets face it no one really writes in cursive, at least not formally, its all typed. I was taught the idea of cursive is to write quicker, however I can type faster then I can write anything.

that is just my input.

answered Dec 08 '10 at 00:12

trueb
15.0k●50●99●257

Thanks for your input!

So this the death of classical writing and the dawn of a new age in instant media. I don't know about you, but it saddens me a little.

I think that we shouldn't live in this I-want-it-now/instant lifestyle. I think we should put more feeling into what we do, and make choices we don't regret (let's face it, the faster you make a choice, the higher the chance you will regret it because of the inconsideration of some variables)

However if I'm writing a paper, typically I find typing the better choice because of the fact that I can easily cut/paste and edit.

Anyways, thanks again

(Dec 08 '10 at 00:18) Nomad

0	Yes, because there are teachers who only write in cursive. If children weren't taught how to read cursive, how are they expected to know how some teachers write? answered Dec 07 '10 at 22:22 catchatyou 20.7k●89●165●383

0	No. I learned it and I NEVER use it. Teachers don't like it because they can't read it unless the writing is clear. answered Dec 08 '10 at 00:20 Matthew B 1.3k●52●62●82

0	I have not learnt it, but would like to, although I don't know if I would ever use it. answered Dec 08 '10 at 03:09 DomChester 391●12●16●25

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