cursive writing pp for edu210

What’s Happening to ….

Presentation by Barbara Bayer EDU*210

Cursive handwriting like everything else we take for

granted, is becoming obsolete. Today’s children are

not learning cursive handwriting. Why? It is because

we are in the digital age. Many businesses are using

the electronic signature through via email and/or their

webpage to get faster results with important

documents.

It’s a debate that has been simmering among experts, parents and, with some arguing that, in a digital age, mandatory cursive instruction is a step backwards

while others believe it’s a long-held cultural tradition worth preserving.

In some schools such as the one I am involved have put aside the teaching of cursive writing. It seems that teaching cursive has become as extinct as the dinosaur. Like the saying the mind is a terrible thing to waste so is the art of cursive. I learned to write cursive in the 2nd grade and became an efficient writer as the years went on because it was a requirement that we at the 5th grade level do most of our work in cursive. Cursive becomes your own unique type of writing. Just like your fingerprint no two people write exactly alike. You also need to learn cursive so that you have your own signature writing. When you sign a check or most important they expect you to do it in a cursive signature not print. Also most teachers also expect their students to know how to write in cursive as they go up in grade levels. This becomes a problem when the teachers write in cursive and the students not only can’t write it they can’t read it either. I don’t blame the teachers because of the pressures that are put on them to teach to the test. They go through the curriculum so fast that at times the students don’t know or understand what they are learning before they are on to the next subject. I do commend the teachers that take some time to teach their students the art of cursive despite all the other things they are required to teach. I did talk to some of the students and teachers that attend/work at the school I am familiar with and here are the responses that I received. I interviewed a Special Ed., First, and Third teacher. I then interviewed students from fourth, second, and fifth grades. As I type what was said in the interviews I will identify the Spec. Ed. Teacher as SE, the Third grade teacher as TG, and the First grade teacher as FG. I will also identify the students as the grades they are in as 4G, 2G, and 5G.

Teacher Interview

Question: Do you feel that cursive should be a part of the curriculum, and why?

SE: I do feel that we should have cursive as a part of the curriculum because our children should know

how to write and definitely know how to read it, this I feel is because in their adult lives they will come

across cursive more than they will likely see print. It is also sometimes easier for my children that have

problems with printing doing a better job doing cursive because it is easy and flowing when they learn it.

TG: I do feel that cursive is important but due to the curriculum and how we are expected to be teaching

a certain skill within a certain time frame, we are stressed to make sure we are on target so that we are

not reprimanded about not being on the targeted goal. I wish that I had the time to teach cursive it is a

skill that every student should know and when they get further in the education system it could be

helpful when they need to take notes because it is quicker to write in cursive than print.

FG: If I had the time to teach my students I would like to teach them cursive. It may also be useless since

they are not continuing the process of cursive, so what is the use!

Student Interview

Question: Would you like for your teacher to teach you how to write cursive and why?

4G: Yes, I would like to continue learning cursive, we did learn a little in third grade and did some

in fourth earlier in the year, but we haven’t had time to do anymore. I can write faster when I write

in cursive.

5G: I wish that we still did learn cursive; we get a little bit of writing in but not much. I do know a

little cursive writing, but not much. I also wish that we did cursive because it is expected of us to

do most of our work in cursive and the teacher usually writes cursive on the smart board, and I

don’t know how to read a lot of the words.

2G: I want to know how to write cursive because when we did a little in 1st grade I really liked it

and I thought it was really cool. Sometimes I ask my mom to help me learn it because last year we

were able to take our old handwriting books home

These next flew slides show s series pf graphs of people who took a toll on cursive writing and you can see the results of what people think and feel about it.

1. Did you know that schools are doing away with cursive handwriting?

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2. Why are they getting rid of cursive handwriting, one reason being the digital age. They say in the future all transaction will be done via digital. Some businesses and banks are already using digital signatures. They say it will make it easier and faster. Do you think this is a good reason to do away with cursive handwriting?


3. Did you know that if you do not learn cursive writing you would not be able to read cursive handwriting or sign your own name in cursive handwriting?


4. How do you feel about today's children not learning how to read or write in cursive writing?


5. Did you know people feel a signature is as valuable as a fingerprint. If today's children do not learn cursive handwriting some feel that it will be easier for the criminals to get away with identity theft. Do you agree?


6. If children do not learn to read or write in cursive writing they will not be able to read The United States Constitution. How does this make you feel? - Comments


1. That technology is making people more ignorant. It is forcing kids to learn how to be lazy and just "google it."

2. Angry

3. I can read cursive writing and I cannot read the Constitution. Handwriting is generational. If you look at handwriting from previous centuries, it looks very different than it does today. While they can read a translation of an important document in a textbook, there are other things they will be missing out on, such as genealogical research. It is very difficult to read old letters and signed documents if you cannot read cursive handwriting. That being said, it is not a difficult skill to learn. Parents could teach their children.

4. I think its terrible and I hope the teachers will reconsider their decision. I also think its a well thought out plan. Cursive will now be taught in college for a substantial fee which also means only affluent children will ever be able to read cursive in the future.

5. Disappointed

7. What are your thoughts on teaching children cursive handwriting? - Comments


1. It should be taught

2. Let them learn it

3. I feel it is important to learn, but it shouldn't be emphasized in the same manner it was in previous generations. We were supposed to form the letters precisely as the teachers wrote on the board. But, then, once you learn how to write, you end up developing your own style anyway. I say teach them in 3rd grade, and let them decide after that how they wish to write.

4. How hard is it to continue teaching it?

5. They should learn it

cursive writing pp for edu210

Documents

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cursive handwriting

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teaching of cursive

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grade teacher

students dont