Cursive Writing?

[Sojourner]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 It's because the Constitution is written in cursive and some folks are afraid that today's young people can no longer read it. There has been quite a movement over this. I find it hard to take this very seriously, but then I read cursive and can write if I really have to.

If this is a real thing (and it sounds like it is), then it's just a pitiful reminder of how ignorant and backwards-thinking some folks are. So, along the same lines, will there be a push to teach kids ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, since these were used to write the Bible? I mean, how will our kids possibly read the Bible and the Constitution otherwise?

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 It's because the Constitution is written in cursive and some folks are afraid that today's young people can no longer read it. There has been quite a movement over this. I find it hard to take this very seriously, but then I read cursive and can write if I really have to.

Why should it matter? It's not like it's relevant to life in the US anymore. Like reading Latin. Plus, it's always available in typed text, in case some archeologist or anthropologist want's to read it.

Cursive is dead, at least until electricity stops working - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_(TV_series)

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 It's because the Constitution is written in cursive and some folks are afraid that today's young people can no longer read it. There has been quite a movement over this. I find it hard to take this very seriously, but then I read cursive and can write if I really have to.

+1. If any of today's young people wanted to read the Constitution they'd look online, and would find something like this Transcript of the Constitution of the United States - Official Text. Like anyone would look for the original cursive version if they wanted to read it, or any detailed document... While writing may develop motor skills, so do many other endeavors, not unique to writing in cursive.

[marko]

Cursive would be nice. Spelling would be better. Proper grammatical use of those cursive, correctly spelled words would be great. But alas....

I think cursive demands a nice, motor/mental discipline that is all too rare in schools today.

I personally believe that we've become a nation of idiots who cannot even make change for 97 cents when you give them a dollar unless the register tells them so. (c'mon! we've all seen this)

[Tadpole]

Imagine, there will be a day when people will get degrees that surround the ability to read and write the ancient script of cursive English.


Will they use emoticon and u and r languages or just think into their head chip?

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko Cursive would be nice. Spelling would be better. Proper grammatical use of those cursive, correctly spelled words would be great. But alas.... I think cursive demands a nice, motor/mental discipline that is all too rare in schools today. I personally believe that we've become a nation of idiots who cannot even make change for 97 cents when you give them a dollar unless the register tells them so. (c'mon! we've all seen this)

They also can't churn butter or bundle a weave a basket. Society is doomed!

[jjquantz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sojourner If this is a real thing (and it sounds like it is), then it's just a pitiful reminder of how ignorant and backwards-thinking some folks are. So, along the same lines, will there be a push to teach kids ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, since these were used to write the Bible? I mean, how will our kids possibly read the Bible and the Constitution otherwise?

If you had grown up around the folks who are pushing this like I did, you would know that the Bible wasn't written in Hebrew and Aramaic - it was written in King James' English.

[aja8888]

I wonder what Google thinks about all of this?

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sojourner If this is a real thing (and it sounds like it is), then it's just a pitiful reminder of how ignorant and backwards-thinking some folks are. So, along the same lines, will there be a push to teach kids ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, since these were used to write the Bible? I mean, how will our kids possibly read the Bible and the Constitution otherwise?

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley Why should it matter? It's not like it's relevant to life in the US anymore. Like reading Latin. Plus, it's always available in typed text, in case some archeologist or anthropologist want's to read it. Cursive is dead, at least until electricity stops working - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_(TV_series)

I'm just 'splainin' the "movement". It seems like a throwback to me and a distraction from more serious issues that surely must exist. But some folks have gotten really worked up over this.

The Cursive Movement on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Cursive...9378898116044/

Cursive Writing Bill Clears Indiana Senate: http://eaglecountryonline.com/local-...ndiana-senate/

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjquantz If you had grown up around the folks who are pushing this like I did, you would know that the Bible wasn't written in Hebrew and Aramaic - it was written in King James' English.

LOL!

Not Greek either?

Now why don't they teach Latin anymore in school so today's young people can go to the "source" for so much of our scientific heritage?

[Walt34]

Dagnabit, I had to learn it, the little runts shouldn't be able to not suffer through it too.

And stay off my lawn.

[Texas Proud]

Wow... a lot of side talk on such a simple question...

Nobody that I know is talking about going back and teaching Hebrew or anything else like that... just cursive writing...

I have read about how it is hard to read some people's cursive... well, it is hard to read some peoples block letters also... heck, my old boss could not even read some of HIS own writing...


Myself, I have not used cursive in 40 to 50 years.... but it is something that I want my children to learn... one is too late unless they teach in college... but the other still has time... she actually WANTS to learn it... so there!!!

[MRG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 LOL! Not Greek either? Now why don't they teach Latin anymore in school so today's young people can go to the "source" fo so much of our scientific heritage?

I had two years of Latin. Use it often.

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRG I had two years of Latin. Use it often.

Two years of Latin in high school; never use it, unless you count Latin-derived English (via, diem, etc.), or scientific symbols...

Having spent 32.5 years in a research-oriented position, I filled many lab notebooks, most of which end life in the trash, all with "block" lettering.

If I go slowly, my cursive is good, though not great, but then I never use cursive for anything but my signature.

My signature starts off legibly, but by the end has devolved into illegible scribbles... And don't get me started in digital signatures, signed on an ill-positioned screen, with your index finger... 😜

[Bestwifeever]

I think kids should learn a little cursive, enough so that they can go on and customize their own handwriting (I'm also a big fan of the unitasking concentration it fosters and agree 100 percent with the fine motor skills contribution too--also think rote memorization is important to feature but I'm sure that's out the window too). I hate that the idea of teaching cursive has become part of a movement with sub-political themes. So many things are taught in school that could be questioned--why teach printing either when kids will be pushing buttons on a keyboard or just speaking into a microphone to create text vs using a pen or pencil? And seriously, the no. 1 question asked by high school students: "will I ever use algebra after I graduate?" (Answer: no, there's an app for that). I imagine more people use at least a little cursive than ever use a little algebra (not to knock algebra--it too trains the brain even for those of us who were non-STEM professionals).

Funny, my handwriting truly sucks in spite of learning cursive from the nuns in second grade and spending a career in the word industry where I used it every day, and I scored 99th percentile on my math SATs back in the day and never took another math class after high school.

[niven]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akck The capital F, T and Z in your attachment aren't same as what I was taught.

Since we're sharing, my cursive was different also - and actually even more loopy than this, but it's closer. Of course, I was also punished for trying to write with my left hand, which I still do.

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever And seriously, the no. 1 question asked by high school students: "will I ever use algebra after I graduate?" (Answer: no, there's an app for that).

That's what I thought too when I was in HS (except for the app part, no "apps" back then).

Then I wanted to learn to fly an airplane and the question arises: "Your airplane holds 36 gallons of fuel and burns 8.7 gallons per hour at cruise, which is 120 mph. You want to fly 450 miles and there is a 10 mph wind 30° to the left off the nose. Will you make it or run out of fuel and crash & burn in the mountains?" About that time algebra becomes very, very interesting!

I would not want to put myself in a position wherein I and my passengers die because I forgot to charge the phone battery. So with algebra the stakes can be a little higher than cursive writing. Unless you want to get into doctor's writing and prescriptions....

[6miths]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko I personally believe that we've become a nation of idiots who cannot even make change for 97 cents when you give them a dollar unless the register tells them so. (c'mon! we've all seen this)

That's easy! It's a nickel! Well north of the border anyway! (But no change if it's 98 cents, sorry)

[marko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley They also can't churn butter or bundle a weave a basket. Society is doomed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt34 Then I wanted to learn to fly an airplane and the question arises: "Your airplane holds 36 gallons of fuel and burns 8.7 gallons per hour at cruise, which is 120 mph. You want to fly 450 miles and there is a 10 mph wind 30° to the left off the nose. Will you make it or run out of fuel and crash & burn in the mountains?" About that time algebra becomes very, very interesting!

When I was about 18, I took some sort of summer class (aeronautics were involved somehow). The instructor started on adding and multiplying fractions, converting decimals, percentages and so on.

All he got from us were blank stares.

"This is supposed to be a math review!! But you all look like this is the first time you've seen this!"
"We never saw any of this before" we said.

He realized that he was witnessing the first wave of the 'new math' generation (early 60's) that had come through the pipeline.

We spent the rest of the program learning essentially 4th grade math skills for the first time.

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko We spent the rest of the program learning essentially 4th grade math skills for the first time.

Sigh. I fear for the future of our country...