Is the end of Handwriting upon us?

[Quid est Veritas?]

Should we teach handwriting any more?

"The US state of Illinois has passed a law requiring school students to learn joined-up handwriting, or "cursive", overriding the governor's veto.

It is no longer a requirement in US schools, and some countries have dropped the skill from the curriculum or made it optional.

Why, then, do some - like the UK - still insist on it in a digital age? Shouldn't children learn to type effectively instead?

...

One argument for the importance joined-up writing is that it's usually faster and more fluid for note-taking than printing letters.

But a skilled typist can copy words down even faster - so after early childhood, is there any benefit?

The evidence so far suggests that writing by hand retains its benefits for memorisation long beyond early childhood development.

A 2014 study from UCLA, titled The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard, found exactly that.

It studied laptop use among university students, and said it could be "impairing learning because their use results in shallower processing."


I was shocked when I read there were schools that no longer taught writing beyond the letters themselves, that merely expected typing.
The problem is that once laws need to be enacted to force something to be taught in schools, then it is definitely on the way out. What society considers useful usually does not need to be forced to be taught, it just is. Research seems to suggest handwriting to be important for memory and gaining understanding, that the act of writing aids knowledge.

This seems to be the ongoing trend. We sacrifice depth for superficial understanding. People don't research topics anymore, they just uncritically read a shallow wikipedia page.
I am a doctor, and I realise the irony of my rant on handwriting, but I see my colleagues do something very similar. They don't use their stethoscopes to pick up heart murmurs, but wait for formal ultrasounds. No one takes manual blood pressures anymore, and seldom feel the pulse. We sacrifice manual skills for the ease and streamlining of technology, losing information and ability in the process.

As studies on handwriting suggests, we lose some grasp of our subject matter when typing, engage in more rote learning, so we are undermining critical thinking. It makes one feel like Boethius watching how civilisation tumbles in on itself.

Note: Yes, my handwriting is terrible.

 

[David Kent]

Note: Yes, my handwriting is terrible.

So is mine. Especially now I get writer's cramp.

I never was any good at note taking,

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

My cousin in 4th grade told me next year he would only be allowed to write in cursive writing. So they still make them do it CA. I prefer print over cursive writing. I feel it's important to be able to write THINGS ON PAPER.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

That has made me think more deeply about the assets of hand writing. Yes, more thought goes into hand writing and it aids the memory. My memory Bible verses have to be written down, always.
I have to show my piano pupils how to hold a pen properly as writing music requires artistic skills, or it can look quite a mess on paper with note stems all over the place...

 

[Quasiblogo]

Good question!

Writing is essential when cell phones, lap tops, etc, don't work. How else create reminders, etc., unless one uses a Dictaphone? One could print. But cursive is, I think, faster. Kind of a Print 2.0,

For the doomsday-minded, remnant civilization will need this skill if technology takes a dive.

If I were on a board of directors of a dictionary publisher, I'd be very concerned--doing whatever I could to encourage the teaching of cursive in schools. How about contests for students that judge content only submitted in cursive?

Employers could get in on the cursive renaissance by accepting, "excellent cursive skills" as a resume input. Of course, we're beyond the age of memos, but at least an employer can see the picture of someone who can take notes for self and think outside the box (not rely on technology for everything).

If all else fails, perhaps schools should only allow a font that is cursive style, so that at least the reading of cursive remains intact.

Doctors: why not prescribe cursive as a part of the remedy for dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome?

Psychologists: if you're trying to calm down your patient, couldn't cursive be used to help patients focus, think things through and take pride in what they do?

 

[buzuxi02]

I was surprised to learn that they no longer teach script here in NY. I think it has its benefits and should be taught.
First off hand writing on paper is the only sure way of a writing medium that will not be hacked into. If your nation is at war What's your keyboard going to do when the grid goes down like in Puerto Rico?

 

[David Kent]

My mother in law did not do joined up writing and she was an infant teacher.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

I struggle with insomnia, and a little quirk I've discovered is that writing by cursive is more relaxing and helps to unwind my mind. I literally just finished writing a poem when I popped back on here and noticed this thread, ha. Otherwise, I use it infrequently, because it's not as practical. I did just jot down some thoughts about writing by hand, in part to show that teens can, in fact, have reasonably legible handwriting. I remember a thread a while ago where people questioned whether we could, haha. I'm uploading them as thumbnails so they don't consume as much thread space.

 

[A_Thinker]

Should we teach handwriting any more?

"The US state of Illinois has passed a law requiring school students to learn joined-up handwriting, or "cursive", overriding the governor's veto.

It is no longer a requirement in US schools, and some countries have dropped the skill from the curriculum or made it optional.

Why, then, do some - like the UK - still insist on it in a digital age? Shouldn't children learn to type effectively instead?

...

One argument for the importance joined-up writing is that it's usually faster and more fluid for note-taking than printing letters.

But a skilled typist can copy words down even faster - so after early childhood, is there any benefit?

The evidence so far suggests that writing by hand retains its benefits for memorisation long beyond early childhood development.

A 2014 study from UCLA, titled The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard, found exactly that.

It studied laptop use among university students, and said it could be "impairing learning because their use results in shallower processing."


I was shocked when I read there were schools that no longer taught writing beyond the letters themselves, that merely expected typing.
The problem is that once laws need to be enacted to force something to be taught in schools, then it is definitely on the way out. What society considers useful usually does not need to be forced to be taught, it just is. Research seems to suggest handwriting to be important for memory and gaining understanding, that the act of writing aids knowledge.

This seems to be the ongoing trend. We sacrifice depth for superficial understanding. People don't research topics anymore, they just uncritically read a shallow wikipedia page.
I am a doctor, and I realise the irony of my rant on handwriting, but I see my colleagues do something very similar. They don't use their stethoscopes to pick up heart murmurs, but wait for formal ultrasounds. No one takes manual blood pressures anymore, and seldom feel the pulse. We sacrifice manual skills for the ease and streamlining of technology, losing information and ability in the process.

As studies on handwriting suggests, we lose some grasp of our subject matter when typing, engage in more rote learning, so we are undermining critical thinking. It makes one feel like Boethius watching how civilisation tumbles in on itself.

Note: Yes, my handwriting is terrible.

I often jot down notes ... as an Engineer, I've filled multitudes of notebooks with the written word. I do crosswords and other word puzzles, ... still write the occasional check. Yet, in all of this, I rarely write in cursive style, ... and typically will only use it to sign my name to a document. Engineering still requires great lettering skills ... as someone else may need to read your notes, and print is, typically, more easily read than script.

I do make use of electronic communication, as well, and it seems to be a capability which will remain and provide a great benefit to our society. One of the benefits of electronic printed communication is the mandating of a particular level of literateness that many would not aspire to otherwise. Of course, it is not likely the level of literateness that we would like to see, but is, at least, on a level where such written communication can be understood.

(I have another theory about the cell-phone being a civilizing influence, but that's for another time)

My great question is ... how will signatures be handled ? But, I'm sure they'll figure it out.

 

[Vylo]

My cousin in 4th grade told me next year he would only be allowed to write in cursive writing. So they still make them do it CA. I prefer print over cursive writing. I feel it's important to be able to write THINGS ON PAPER.

I've only exclusively written in cursive. It is actually a huge chore for me to write in print.

 

[comana]

My generation was schooled prior to computers so legible hand writing was very important. There were a number of years in primary school where cursive was all the teacher would accept. However, once in middle school my teacher would not accept any work presented in cursive because printed writing is easier to read. By high school, only typed papers were accepted.

My children were taught cursive but it was never allowed for finished assignments beyond actual cursive instruction related assignments.

Cursive is on its way out because it is no longer useful for communication outside of personal notes. I can't even argue that it is a faster way to hand write notes because after being required to print only for so many years my printing became very quick and efficient. My cursive is mostly forgotten now and when I attempt it is clunky and slow.

Every child must learn to form letters and words by hand on paper but it just isn't the best way to communicate in writing any longer. Cursive is simply archaic and signatures are even electronic for many legal documents today making a cursive signature on the verge of extinction as well.

I say good riddance!

 

[essentialsaltes]

"The evidence so far suggests that writing by hand retains its benefits for memorisation long beyond early childhood development."

I find it useful to write things down... it focuses my memory on it enough that often I don't need the thing I wrote anymore.

I know the kids today just follow the driving directions their phone shouts at them. I write down directions on a piece of paper, take it in the car with me, and then 9 times out of 10, I drive to the destination without ever looking at the paper.

 

[Babe Ruth]

I was surprised to learn that they no longer teach script here in NY. What's your keyboard going to do when the grid goes down like in Puerto Rico?

Amen. We shouldn't take technology's uninterrupted existence for granted..

Another nice thing about handwritten documents, they leave behind an intimate legacy. I still have cursive letters from my deceased mother-in-law & maternal grandmother. It's a piece of who they were.. I wish public schools would re-focus on teaching traditional skills (like cursive). But..

 

[Landon Caeli]

Should we teach handwriting any more?

"The US state of Illinois has passed a law requiring school students to learn joined-up handwriting, or "cursive", overriding the governor's veto.

It is no longer a requirement in US schools, and some countries have dropped the skill from the curriculum or made it optional.

Why, then, do some - like the UK - still insist on it in a digital age? Shouldn't children learn to type effectively instead?

...

One argument for the importance joined-up writing is that it's usually faster and more fluid for note-taking than printing letters.

But a skilled typist can copy words down even faster - so after early childhood, is there any benefit?

The evidence so far suggests that writing by hand retains its benefits for memorisation long beyond early childhood development.

A 2014 study from UCLA, titled The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard, found exactly that.

It studied laptop use among university students, and said it could be "impairing learning because their use results in shallower processing."


I was shocked when I read there were schools that no longer taught writing beyond the letters themselves, that merely expected typing.
The problem is that once laws need to be enacted to force something to be taught in schools, then it is definitely on the way out. What society considers useful usually does not need to be forced to be taught, it just is. Research seems to suggest handwriting to be important for memory and gaining understanding, that the act of writing aids knowledge.

This seems to be the ongoing trend. We sacrifice depth for superficial understanding. People don't research topics anymore, they just uncritically read a shallow wikipedia page.
I am a doctor, and I realise the irony of my rant on handwriting, but I see my colleagues do something very similar. They don't use their stethoscopes to pick up heart murmurs, but wait for formal ultrasounds. No one takes manual blood pressures anymore, and seldom feel the pulse. We sacrifice manual skills for the ease and streamlining of technology, losing information and ability in the process.

As studies on handwriting suggests, we lose some grasp of our subject matter when typing, engage in more rote learning, so we are undermining critical thinking. It makes one feel like Boethius watching how civilisation tumbles in on itself.

Note: Yes, my handwriting is terrible.

When I went to the bank to make a withdraw after losing my ATM card, I suddenly realized that I no longer could write in cursive. I literally went through 3 withdraw slips before being able to write "One Hundred twenty"... pathetic. What has become of me?

 

[Go Braves]

I'm the same age as @Stanfordella, was also taught how to write in cursive & all that but agree that typing sure is better. I'm left handed, it's more awkward writing by hand on account of that.
Wish I could write poetry like her, can't do that no matter how I'm writing.

 

[Aldebaran]

My cousin in 4th grade told me next year he would only be allowed to write in cursive writing. So they still make them do it CA. I prefer print over cursive writing. I feel it's important to be able to write THINGS ON PAPER.

Same here. That's almost the only way I take notes. So much easier and less reliant on other things. All that's needed is a pen and paper, as opposed to a charged battery, a password, and an app that doesn't screw things up when the user doesn't do things just right.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

"The evidence so far suggests that writing by hand retains its benefits for memorisation long beyond early childhood development."

I find it useful to write things down... it focuses my memory on it enough that often I don't need the thing I wrote anymore.

I know the kids today just follow the driving directions their phone shouts at them. I write down directions on a piece of paper, take it in the car with me, and then 9 times out of 10, I drive to the destination without ever looking at the paper.

You've touched upon another skill that needs to be cultivated so it won't become extinct in our society - navigation. We discussed this in an intro to neuroscience class I took in high school while studying neuroplasticity. There have been really interesting studies of London taxi drivers in the era before Waze and Uber, and how memorizing the multitude of streets names and learning how to navigate through the city with all its complexities had caused beneficial structural changes in their brain, creating a greater volume of nerve cells in the hippocampus. In a way it's like navigating exercises a "muscle" in your brain, strengthening it. We were challenged to go for a week totally self-navigating. I don't even drive, but I became aware of how often I use navigation just for walking / biking directions somewhere, when I'm in the car with someone else, or to figure out routes to take on public transportation.

Oh. Back to handwriting, something I neglected to expand on in my earlier post is that I do think it's important (if you're a student) to practice composing your thoughts with pen on paper so you're prepared for tests that require you to write under the pressure of time. I discussed how you usually have to write them in print instead of cursive, but not how if you're accustomed to typing everything it can be a challenge to craft an essay or other response quickly by hand. I'm so used to being able to type everything fast and never having to worry about making alterations that it wigs me out when I'm writing by hand for a midterm or final, and I want to make changes, but for it to still be neat. Like, you can't just copy and paste to change the order of your paragraphs if you're writing by hand, so you have to figure out how adapt.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

My cursive is so bad I stopped using it years ago. I have many grad student tenants and get notes from them all the time, almost none written in cursive. The few that are are hard to read.

 

[Aldebaran]

You've touched upon another skill that needs to be cultivated so it won't become extinct in our society - navigation. We discussed this in an intro to neuroscience class I took in high school while studying neuroplasticity. There have been really interesting studies of London taxi drivers in the era before Waze and Uber, and how memorizing the multitude of streets names and learning how to navigate through the city with all its complexities had caused beneficial structural changes in their brain, creating a greater volume of nerve cells in the hippocampus. In a way it's like navigating exercises a "muscle" in your brain, strengthening it. We were challenged to go for a week totally self-navigating. I don't even drive, but I became aware of how often I use navigation just for walking / biking directions somewhere, when I'm in the car with someone else, or to figure out routes to take on public transportation.

This reminds me of how we're actually being untaught so many things. It's not just how to write, now that we're becoming accustomed to punching buttons, but also calculating numbers in our mind or on paper because of calculators and computers. There's also navigation, as you mentioned. How do you get from point A to point B? No longer can we say, because we don't need to. Just enter the directions into the GPS device and it will do the thinking for you. And now, we have cars that brake for us when we aren't paying attention to what's in front of us. They also parallel park for us, and turn on the headlights for us. Don't even get me started on the whole "smart home" thing where blinds open and shut themselves, the temperature adjusts itself, lights turn on or off by themselves, etc.

I understand wanting conveniences, but I think it's getting to the point where we're actually losing our ability to think, reason, make decisions, etc. and that can be dangerous when we give those things up so willingly. One day, a computer won't be there to tell us what to do or how to do it.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

This reminds me of how we're actually being untaught so many things. It's not just how to write, now that we're becoming accustomed to punching buttons, but also calculating numbers in our mind or on paper because of calculators and computers. There's also navigation, as you mentioned. How do you get from point A to point B? No longer can we say, because we don't need to. Just enter the directions into the GPS device and it will do the thinking for you. And now, we have cars that brake for us when we aren't paying attention to what's in front of us. They also parallel park for us, and turn on the headlights for us. Don't even get me started on the whole "smart home" thing where blinds open and shut themselves, the temperature adjusts itself, lights turn on or off by themselves, etc.

I understand wanting conveniences, but I think it's getting to the point where we're actually losing our ability to think, reason, make decisions, etc. and that can be dangerous when we give those things up so willingly. One day, a computer won't be there to tell us what to do or how to do it.

The complexity of life often requires a little help. Without a GPS I would still be lost in St. Louis. Also, my house is hard to find. Delivery persons and taxicabs really need their GPS to find me. And I actually like automatic heat control for the house. I still remember a grade school friend whose heat was controlled by opening and closing the coal furnace damper by a chain operated from the first floor. Our own coal furnace had no such control. Happily we switched to oil heat when I was very young but I still remember my older brother shoveling coal into the furnace when my dad wasn't home.

I think we are losing our ability to make moral decisions, not technical ones.