Today's Post---Cursive Handwriting:
Ok, everyone (at least primarily throughout the US) has to learn how to write in cursive during their elementary school years. And every student has asked why. And every teacher has answered: "You'll need to learn how to write in cursive for high school, college, and the rest of your life." And every teacher has lied. If you were a persistent and inquisitive student, then you continued to as why. Some teachers might follow up with "Cursive allows you to write faster," or something to that extent.
So honestly, how many students (you included) have ever used cursive extensively outside of elementary school? Other than, of course, to sign your name? And forging another's signature---especially your parents---does not count.
Wait, cursive lets your write faster? Maybe back in the 18th century it did, before the typewriter was invented. Today, PCs/Laptops allows every student with half a brain and lots of Instant Messenger experience to type at blistering rates of 75 wpm. If you can write legibly in cursive at 75 wpm, my hats off to you.
So, cursive, the ridiculous and over-taught art. Stay tuned tomorrow for another useless creation/practice.
I can't wait to see what follows in this series.
I think cursive is over-rated, in that teachers act like it is so vital to your educational experience and success. I don't think there is much emphasis, if any, placed on it after elementary school.
I do, however, love to write in cursive. It does look pretty, you know. =)
I wish I had a pretty cursive handwriting, but I don't. Maybe that's another reason I mostly print and type! So, yeah, I hardly use cursive at all...mostly to sign my name and that's about it.
Put me down as another cursive user. I write almost exclusively in cursive. That being said, I see the uselessness of it. I believe the letters are similar enough to print that most people could discern what a person might use in the creation of their own "cursive" handwriting. My personal favorite useless thing taught in school is how to hold a pencil "correctly". I believe useful would be a better perspective. Halle got marked down on her report card for "folding her thumb over while writing" I observed her for a while and thought, her writing is good, so what is the big deal? Then one day while writing cursive, of all things, I saw that I do the same thing. I guess I wouldn't pass kindergarten today, and I would like to add I have very nice handwriting.
Beyond that, she is not a great shoe-tie-er. I figure, when she needs it, she'll master it. She doesn't even own shoes that need to be tied. I doubt she will be twelve years old and still unable to tie something. :)~. But, there it is on the old report card among all the great marks...