Gen Z Never Learned to Read Cursive
How will they interpret the past?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine...istory/671246/
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Gen Z Never Learned to Read Cursive
How will they interpret the past?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine...istory/671246/
Thanks so much for the post, catbert - a fascinating albeit sad read. I've long known about the slow, steady decline in cursive instruction but didn't realize it was quite this bad.
I read this the other night. I was reminded of a friend who is a university professor; it was at least 10 years ago she told me about how students started coming to her, asking about the comments she wrote in their papers - that they couldn't read them. An FP aficionado, she thought maybe it was the color ink she used but... no, they simply couldn't read her (impeccable) cursive script.
Saying it to myself: "Okay, Boomer". At 63, that's what I am. I started learning American cursive just before we moved to England. There, I was taught what was basically an italic hand, only slightly more cursive. Then, it was off to Germany, where I learned to write with a fountain pen in the German cursive style. I was also expected to learn Suetterlin, although I didn't have to write in it. I just had to be able to read it. As for the fountain pens, they were required. No ball point pens, except to write over patches where we had used some salty-tasting ink eraser substance. The German cursive style stuck with me, with a few modifications (notably the capital "S", where I switched to an Italic S rather than the American S) when we returned to the United States. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't pick up the rounded "Cheerleader Gothic" beloved of my female friends. My hands just don't write that way. I started fooling with calligraphy in my early 20s, mostly using an Italic hand. That crept into my cursive style a little bit. And then I learned to write Russian (Cyrillic) cursive, and it has had the most influence on my handwriting after the German style. I write now with a German-Cyrillic-Italic mix spiced up with chickenscratch.
I can't imagine not being able to read cursive in English, German, Suetterlin (German) or Russian. It might take some effort, but I can do it even in Suetterlin. That Suetterlin was detested by Hitler and the Nazi regime only makes me more determined to decipher it. Ayup. I bear a grudge that precedes my own birth (1959).
On an aesthetic level, unless it's bordering on calligraphy, I hate to read things handwritten in a printed style. It bugs me. There are situations where I expect a printed style, notably block caps on most engineering diagrams and drawings, and architectural renderings. But beyond that? Ugh!
I think it's great. We olds can plot against our young overlords in a secret script!
Thankfully, handwriting seems to be returning as part of the curriculum, at least in our school district. I have a set of fountain pens waiting for kiddo.
I am dealing with this right now and I think it’s very important. I have a 12 year old grandson whose father is in the Service and who has attended multiple elementary schools. His first school in West Virginia taught the kids cursive handwriting so he’s had some exposure but after he moved to some pretty sophisticated places, there was no handwriting taught. He’s rejecting my suggestions that he learns cursive writing, and says his teachers are only interested in “characters per minute” proficiency on the keyboards.
I think this lack of knowledge of handwriting will cost youngsters some opportunities in the future. Sometimes they are going to be without their computers or other electronic devices, and will need to know this skill to be successful. At least it will give them a competitive edge in communicating, understanding, written, documents, and historical basis, and even taking notes in class when their batteries die!
Nor have they learned history, geography, critical thinking, manners, common courtesy, how to cook, the ability to remember a phone number or six, a second language, and ....... Our future leaders.
I retired from a career as a public school teacher in July 2022. In my experience, students in the majority were able to both read and write cursive.
Some, perhaps, maybe a significant percentage, and yet I have met, known, and worked with people from these upcoming generations that are as remarkable in their skills, ethics, and aspirational motivations as any older people I have met. The future of cursive is one thing, but there are still many good humans to count on in the decades to come.Quote:
Originally Posted by karmachanic
I recently retired after 37 years teaching. I agree, and have said so here several times.Quote:
Originally Posted by countrydirt
Wait, is this parody?Quote:
Originally Posted by karmachanic
It isn't. It is an old person looking down on others, and it is not a good practice. The thing is, there are many 60 plus year olds who are no different. I bid everyone adieu. I have sushi to eat...LOL!!Quote:
Originally Posted by TSherbsWait, is this parody?Quote:
Originally Posted by karmachanic
It isn't, but neither is judging people by their age. I'm closing in on 70 and I'll leave it at that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Naill
Well, if it's not parody, then it's just wrong, regardless of the age of its author.