NYTimes.com: The Write Stuff
This article brings up an interesting point. Why do they teach cursive in school? It’s something that most people never use in the real world. The authors suggest an italic as an alternative and show how to use it.
Books
NYTimes.com: The Write Stuff
4 Comments
You do have to learn to write your own name in cursive, so you can sign checks and documents when you get older, but you hardly have to learn the whole alphabet for that. I think they mostly teach cursive so that you will be able to read other people’s cursive writing. Sort of a vicious cycle. I haven’t used cursive writing myself since fourth or fifth grade.
You don’t even need cursive to sign your name. You can legally sign your name any way you want. I think that schools should teach a handwriting style that is usable your entire life.
Cursive has been taught because most people can write more quickly with cursive than they can with printing; however, the need for it has diminished considerably in recent years. As technology has improved over the last 20-30 years, more and more people are giving up cursive (except for their signatures) and reverting to printing. I’ve heard that some schools are even starting to phase out teaching cursive, and I imagine that it will go away completely in a generation. Frankly, one doesn’t even need cursive for his or her signature; a printed signature is every bit as legal as one written in cursive.
@Will Thanks for the comment. I agree.