The schools that teach cursive and proper penmanship are abating frequently because of touchscreen, typing, and online assignments. Handwriting is useful for people’s perception of education, memory, and clarity. Taking a look at this high-value skill, why is it not being taught anymore if it is so crucial?
Penmanship has historically been viewed as a status symbol, cursive being used by upper-class individuals who had the money to pay for education in such exclusive times. Handwriting could even land you higher positions or present more studious opportunities. Now that education in some countries is way more common for children of all classes, it’s still finding less use as technology advances and younger generations opt for these shortcuts instead of paper-based work.
Handwriting also connects to muscle memory and how our brain computes any facts that may be useful for later recalling of this information. Taking notes on a subject being taught in class on paper is so common due to this, especially if done multiple times, which is perfect for recalling information on tests. Having good penmanship results in recollection of information especially in a school setting.
Grading handwritten assignments is incredibly difficult when a student has sloppy or chaotic handwriting. Bad spacing, incorrect grammar, or incoherent writing create illegibility and a lowered standard. Children with disabilities that make handwriting hard deserve the resources to learn in a way that is suitable for them, and the children with the capability to make their penmanship as adept as possible should maximize that opportunity.
Handwriting has proven significant in the education of individuals and should not be taught any less, even with the interference of technology and typing. In order to improve our skills as a society in this dying art, schools need to update curriculums to involve cursive and proper lettering.
Cites –
https://wordsmarts.com/cursive-penmanship/?lctg=b47287bf-a39b-45f7-9d63-19f293ec4520
https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/writing/articles/importance-teaching-handwriting
https://aristokids.in/good-handwriting-tips-to-improve-handwriting-handwriting/