The other day we found something rather odd in the office. We were discussing a keyboard and how the painted on letters were worn off of much of it, but it’s a comfortable keyboard so someone was interested in continuing to use it.
The conversation then turned to if people need to look at the keyboard or not because a student in high school was attempting to read cursive hand writing the other day here, but couldn’t do it.
So, would a student be able to type without looking at where their hands are or must they look down? We didn’t have anyone around to ask at the time, but both Ainsley (who works in production) and myself said that as long as we find the home row with the bumps on the keys of “F” and “J” that we don’t have to look at the keyboard. Yet, we could both read cursive handwriting as well, but with an emphasis on technology for the younger generation do they need to look down or not?
I digress, however, because using the keyboard (students should be able to do this without looking at what keys they’re hitting) isn’t the point of this column. I find it surprising that in school cursive is no longer taught.
Ainsley spoke about how she remembered taking it as a youngster and the pride she took in being graduated to a pen, because until you had your letters down you were stuck with a pencil. It was a fun milestone that kids used to meet; but, more importantly it’s a lost art form now that it’s not being used in school.
I myself have terrible handwriting: it’s squishy, small, and messy. However, if I take my time I can actually write quite well and I can read handwriting… sometimes getting caught up on letters depending on each person’s style of handwriting which varies.
Kids today, however, are vastly missing out in my opinion. I studied history in school and one of the primary sources that we worked with were journals. People made notes and wrote down their thoughts through cursive. It’s extremely important to be able to read these sources when researching.
I know what you’re all thinking right now, we’re not historians and primary sources mean nothing to us. But, they do. My grandmother passed away last fall and she had numerous writings saved away including a medical biography, notes to all the grandchildren, and a history of her life from throughout the years.
The feelings associated with being able to read her writings, in her handwriting even after she was gone, it made it feel like she was right there with us again. She was a very proper lady and her handwriting was the same way, elegant.
I don’t thinking printing has ever been accused of being elegant, but perhaps I’m wrong. However, kids today won’t be able to read their grandparents’ writing and will be missing out on that aspect of life.
So, although technology is important and typing is necessary to learn I don’t think cursive writing is something that should be lost and it’s too bad that it is no longer taught.
