As an adult, my use of cursive is limited to signing my name on receipts—nothing more. Sure, I’ve heard that it’s essential for reading historical documents like the Declaration of Independence, but in a world dominated by the internet, keyboards, and sleek fonts like Helvetica, I just don’t see the necessity.
Reflecting on my own experience, I recall the drudgery of learning cursive back in second grade. Growing up with D’Nealian writing meant I got to endure this twice. There’s a lot of talk about how writing engages different areas of the brain, and while that’s true, research indicates that it doesn’t matter whether it’s cursive or printed. Science still holds weight in my worldview, despite the swirling debates in our society.
No doubt, some might view my perspective as radical, especially calligraphers, but I have a long list of priorities I’d rather my child spend their valuable school time on than mastering cursive writing. Here are a few:
- Writing Clearly in Print: First things first—let’s ensure they can write legibly in print. After all, if my fourth grader’s handwriting is any indication, we have plenty of room for improvement in spelling too. I swear on my comfy athleisure wear that I will not send a child into the world who doesn’t know when to use “their,” “they’re,” and “there.”
- Getting Plenty of Exercise: I want my kids to come home from school worn out. Tired kids are the best—less fuss at dinner and no need for threats about bedtimes. They’re less likely to bicker over screen time or engage in sibling wrestling matches. So, let’s run them ragged, please.
- Practicing Mindfulness: Learning to meditate is essential for teaching kids how to calm down. Trust me, after a weekend road trip with my kids, I could use some meditation myself!
- Exploring Creativity Through Art: I am all for letting kids dive into messy arts and crafts, even if it means they end up covered in paint. Let them unleash their creativity in school so I don’t have to scrub glitter and play-dough remnants off the walls.
- Mastering the Recorder: I’d rather they practice their music skills at school than endure the sound of tortured notes emanating from their bedroom at dinner time.
- Completing Science Projects Independently: I envision a world where kids can work on their science projects at school without needing hours of my assistance and exasperated sighs. Can we make that happen?
- Navigating Friendships: Understanding how to build friendships is crucial. One day, they’ll move out and live with someone else, right?
- Studying History: It’s vital to learn about history so we don’t repeat past mistakes. We all know how important that is.
- Recording Their Own Stories: With all the chatter in our house, my kids could easily spend hours writing down their own tales. There’s no shortage of material!
- Avoiding Forgery: Lastly, if they never master cursive, it’ll be much harder for them to forge my signature in high school. I call that a win!
In conclusion, cursive writing isn’t the end-all-be-all of education. While it can be beneficial for children with learning differences, we should focus on more pressing skills—like physical activity, creativity, and social development.
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Summary
In summary, I believe there are far more valuable skills for my child to learn than cursive writing. Prioritizing clear communication, physical activity, creativity, and social skills will set them up for success far more effectively than penmanship.