From a young age, students were once taught how to write with beautiful loops connecting each and every letter with one fluid flowing motion of a writing utensil. This concept is known as, none other than, the famous cursive handwriting.
Now with the new changes in technology, as well as the change in the pace of teaching handwriting in school, it is no wonder that we are seeing less and less usage of this fun and creative penmanship. Not only is the usage of cursive handwriting going down, but the percentage of young students and adults that can read cursive is also declining. And many schools have all together stopped teaching the concept.
This makes me sad for so many reasons, as a college student who writes in nothing but cursive handwriting. It helps me take notes way faster, it's really neat when it is done correctly, and it's just a beautiful form of art.
All of my grandmother's cute birthday cards were written to me in cursive. I would love for my future children to be able to read their great grandmother's handwriting. In addition, all of the original documents of our country were written and signed in cursive. If we keep this lack of education up, eventually no one is really going to be able to read these documents.
On a scientific note, Psychology Today reveals that cursive can be extremely beneficial to users both biologically, as well as psychologically. Dr. William Klemm revealed that those students who learn cursive handwriting generally have better hand-eye coordination than those who do not know how to write in cursive. This is because cursive is a specific and special hand-eye coordination that causes a different part of the brain to be active. Klemm also reveals that psychologically, a child who is taught cursive is also being taught self-discipline.
So not only is this a beautiful form of art and a quick way to take notes, but it is also an essential part of developing an area of the brain!
The future of cursive handwriting is still up in the air. However, it has been clear that although it is not required, most teachers still value the benefits cursive handwriting has to offer. These benefits are psychological and biological in that cursive can build a child’s self-esteem, as well as develop a child’s brain. In addition, cursive is a form of art and self-expression. It is a way for students to be able to set their handwriting apart from others.
Furthermore, cursive gives people a way to connect with the past, whether it is through an original historical document, or reflecting back on an old personal letter or birthday card written by a grandparent. It is important for students to be able to read cursive so that they will be able to maintain this connection to their families, as well as their country.
