Beginning this Fall, Indiana schools will no longer be required to teach cursive. And for those of you who are unaware as I apparently am, Indiana is not the first state to take this step. The reasoning behind this move is so teachers can focus on teaching students keyboard proficiency. Although I certainly agree students need to be able to use a computer, I'm not sure I agree that cursive should no longer be taught.
Thinking back to the times I've used cursive, I wonder what my college professors would have said if I had printed my essays rather than using cursive. In one particular class, every test was an essay test in which at least five essays had to be written out. Would I have been graded differently if I had printed? Maybe not as long as I discussed the topic appropriately. What about other important tests such as the SAT which require essays? College applications? Maybe I'm too far behind the times. Are prospective students now typing their essays and attaching them to their college aps? Hmm. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on this.
I have to admit, I'm not sure I completely agree with this move. The sad thing is I can't really say why! Should cursive be taught simply because it always has been? Things change, times change, etc. But my first reaction to this was...extreme. Why don't they stop teaching math? We have calculators. Why don't they stop teaching spelling and grammar? Word processors have spelling and grammar tools. I hope you can sense the sarcasm. I do not believe math or spelling or grammar should stop being taught in schools.
Maybe I'm reacting a bit harshly. What does everyone else think about this? Leave a comment to let me know.
I think it is crazy. I think it is just a point to a lazy society.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. While the ability to write remains critical, what's so magical about cursive? I for one write cursive about as legibly as a blind woodchuck, yet I'm still able to sign my name (well, my x) to legal documents. I'm not even sure what the purported justification is for continuing to teach script.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the replies. I'm still undecided. I do have to say, though, the need for cursive does seem to have faded out, especially for those who are finished with school.
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