Is cursive writing dead?

[dn0121]

I was talking with a coworker about the "new" math and he mentioned that his niece and nephews never heard of cursive writing. He went on to say that they actually laughed when he showed it to them.

As our conversation went on it eventually led to the signature. How will people of the future sign things if they don't know cursive? (This was not a serious question just for laughs.) Also when was it decided that it was not acceptable to print your name for the signature?

Just a random article Schools debate: Is cursive writing worth teaching? - USATODAY.com

 

[Beelzebaby666]

I never really learned to write in cursive and I'm 34... My old boss once told me that I have trange handwriting because it's half in print and half in cursive... Neither of my kids can write in cursive...Maybe I should practice up and teach them myself..

 

[Tilted]

I was talking with a coworker about the "new" math and he mentioned that his niece and nephews never heard of cursive writing. He went on to say that they actually laughed when he showed it to them.

As our conversation went on it eventually led to the signature. How will people of the future sign things if they don't know cursive? (This was not a serious question just for laughs.) Also when was it decided that it was not acceptable to print your name for the signature?

Just a random article Schools debate: Is cursive writing worth teaching? - USATODAY.com

That's an interesting question - I never thought about the signature issue. But, to my mind, printing your name is acceptable for a signature. Anything is acceptable, as long as it is an affirmative action making some mark acknowledging/agreeing to whatever you are supposed to be acknowledging/agreeing to.

I used to have to sign so many things, that I stopped even pretending to be writing my name - I didn't want to waste the time it would have taken. At this point, my signature bears almost no resemblance to the letters of my name. It is essentially two nondescript touches of pen to paper (or whatever) - and takes about 3/10ths of a second to complete.

 

[Vince]

Never heard of printing your name for a signature. A signature is something that is signed in cursive. My son was taught cursive in the Calvert school system.

 

[vraiblonde]

Penmanship is dead anyway. Nobody actually writes anymore - they type.

 

[Tilted]

Never heard of printing your name for a signature. A signature is something that is signed in cursive. My son was taught cursive in the Calvert school system.

For legal purposes, a signature need only be a mark made with the intent of acknowledging/accepting/agreeing to something. In reality, it could be typed and carry the same legal effect, so long as it was intended as a 'signature'.

 

[oldman]

All I can tell you is that as an older person I've lost the ability to write in cursive. For the past 40 years or so I've only used a typewriter or computer for communicating and "forgot" cursive. I do sign my name in it though but it's certainly not a pretty thing. It's the new world now and what once was doesn't necessarily carry over.

 

[desertrat]

Never heard of printing your name for a signature. A signature is something that is signed in cursive. My son was taught cursive in the Calvert school system.

You can sign with an x if you can't write. "put your mark on the line."

 

[lovinmaryland]

My kids are in the St. Mary's school district and they were taught to write in cursive. They were very excited to show me that they knew how to do it also

 

[lovinmaryland]

I will say though I am not sure if it is this area or what but 70% of customers that come in to make payments do not fill out or sign their checks or money orders. They hand one of us their check book or the mo and ask us to fill it out and sign it :shrug: That is a little odd to me.

 

[dn0121]

A signature is something that is signed in cursive.

Is this a law that you know of or just what you think?

PS I know the answer.

 

[LusbyMom]

My kids are in Calvert and they teach dnealian which is very similar to cursive and they say it makes the transition to cursive easier.

My kids learned cursive at the end of second grade and at the beginning of third. But they don't really use it and are not required to use it.

 

[Tilted]

I will say though I am not sure if it is this area or what but 70% of customers that come in to make payments do not fill out or sign their checks or money orders. They hand one of us their check book or the mo and ask us to fill it out and sign it :shrug: That is a little odd to me.

That is a little odd. What kind of place do you work at?

 

[depechemode]

That's an interesting question - I never thought about the signature issue. But, to my mind, printing your name is acceptable for a signature. Anything is acceptable, as long as it is an affirmative action making some mark acknowledging/agreeing to whatever you are supposed to be acknowledging/agreeing to.

I used to have to sign so many things, that I stopped even pretending to be writing my name - I didn't want to waste the time it would have taken. At this point, my signature bears almost no resemblance to the letters of my name. It is essentially two nondescript touches of pen to paper (or whatever) - and takes about 3/10ths of a second to complete.

That is my signature lately.

 

[dn0121]

Penmanship is dead anyway. Nobody actually writes anymore - they type.

Pete's thread actually got me thinking about this again. Sometimes they don't even type they text. That is annoying enough to see someone writing in the forums in text language.

 

[lovinmaryland]

That is a little odd. What kind of place do you work at?

At an insurance company.

 

[Dupontster]

All I can tell you is that as an older person I've lost the ability to write in cursive. For the past 40 years or so I've only used a typewriter or computer for communicating and "forgot" cursive. I do sign my name in it though but it's certainly not a pretty thing. It's the new world now and what once was doesn't necessarily carry over.

I am sorry but I don't believe you...Would you please sign a blank check and let me see for myself if you are telling the truth...I'll PM you my address and you can send it to me...TYVM

 

[nachomama]

Penmanship is dead anyway. Nobody actually writes anymore - they type.

I've seen first hand that just about anything the kids do in school now is on the computer. Of course the kids I work with are 4th grade +...However, I do remember my kids learning cursive writing (penmanship) in their Catholic School. :shrug:

 

[nachomama]

At this point, my signature bears almost no resemblance to the letters of my name. It is essentially two nondescript touches of pen to paper (or whatever) - and takes about 3/10ths of a second to complete.

That's me

Pete's thread actually got me thinking about this again. Sometimes they don't even type they text. That is annoying enough to see someone writing in the forums in text language.

sry~cul8r

 

[Toxick]

I used to have to sign so many things, that I stopped even pretending to be writing my name - I didn't want to waste the time it would have taken. At this point, my signature bears almost no resemblance to the letters of my name. It is essentially two nondescript touches of pen to paper (or whatever) - and takes about 3/10ths of a second to complete.

Hah - I'm similar to that.
My signature looks a bit like this: ß_, &____,


But scrawlier.