Cursive handwriting needs to go the way of the dodo bird. This is the hill I will die on.
I have mentioned this a couple times before- like here https://beckypalmer.me/?p=4510 and here https://beckypalmer.me/?p=4718 . Simply put, it is not a skill that children need to learn in 2024. I will go so far as to say we never should have had it in the first place. Why do we need a formal and a casual way to write? Name one other area of your life besides clothing where we have a casual and formal version of the same thing.
I know I’m going to get push back on this, but I have solid reasons for this position. It’s said that learning cursive helps kids learn spelling, reading comprehension, and fine motor skills. It’s also said that kids today don’t know how to sign their name. Let’s take these one at a time.
Spelling. Someone needs to explain to me in very small words why learning how to write words in two different ways helps with spelling. The only thing I can think of is the repetition, so that one’s out the window right away. You don’t need cursive for that.
Reading comprehension. This brings up the second biggest beef I have with cursive- even if it’s done perfectly- which is usually isn’t- it is difficult to read. Kids would be better served by reading more and practicing writing like a 19th century poet less. More reading = more reading comprehension. And those old letters from Great Great Grandma? Software already exists that can “translate” cursive, and that technology is going to get exponentially better with the use of AI. You don’t need cursive for that.
Fine motor skills. There are thousands of other ways kids can work on this. Putting together puzzles. Playing with clay or Play Doh. Coloring. Finger painting. Using safety scissors. Stringing beads. The list is virtually endless. You don’t need cursive for that.
Having a signature. Handwritten signatures are becoming obsolete. I’ve signed my tax forms digitally (and remotely) since at least 2020. Chipped credit cards are eliminating the need to sign for purchases. No one under the age of 75 is writing checks anymore. By the time today’s elementary school aged kids get into the real world there are not going to be many- if any- scenarios where they will need to get out a pen and sign their name on a dotted line. Even if your child becomes famous enough that people ask them for their autograph no one is going to be angry because it’s not in cursive. In fact, many celebrities don’t use cursive now. Trust me on this- I’m married to a serious autograph collector.
So there you have it. Cursive is a waste of time and there’s no need to burden future generations with it.