Is cursive writing dead?

[RareBreed]

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.

My son is in the 2nd grade and they've started teaching him how to write in cursive.

 

[oldman]

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

It's in the mail as I type

 

[SoccerMom2]

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..

I write in half print and half cursive too.

 

[4d2008]

My signature looks nothing like my name. But its MY signature so if anyone WAS to try and sign my name here are instructions. Close 1 eye, Take Left shoe off, grasp pen with second and third toes, sing Im a little tea pot and sign away. That should get you close to my signature.

When I sign the credit card things at stores I usually put a cartoon name instead of my own. Last time I was Fred Flinstone.

 

[Cowgirl]

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

I was going to say the same thing. They always say that in old westerns.

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.

I found that to be the case with older people when I worked retail.



I hardly EVER write in cursive. In fact, when I had to address all those envelopes for the wedding I had to look up some letters (I couldn't remember a capital "Q"). I only write in cursive to sign my name. AND, I find it very hard to write my nickname in cursive, because I'm so used to writing my full name it's almost automatic for me. I have to concentrate to write anything else in cursive.

 

[molly_21]

At this point, my signature bears almost no resemblance to the letters of my name.

This is me also. I get made fun for it. My handwriting is terrible as it is. Cursive would make it worse. I think for most people cursive is pretty much taught now a days for kids to learn how to have a signature. Other than that, filling out an address on an envelope, writing the few checks I do write out (which is rare since I do all my billing online) or leaving a note for a co-worker on their desk if I missed them, I write in print.

I remember that when I was in elementary school we had a little cursive lesson here and there (maybe a 20 min lesson twice a month, nothing special). The school I went to was more concerned that we WROTE more than learning cursive (this was WAY before computers in elementary school). Learning cursive made us 8 year olds feeling more adult and it was fun to take a break from regular learning, but most of us just wrote in print 95% of the time anyway (since 8 year old handwriting is still pretty messy anyway. Like I mentioned cursive would have made it worse for most of the kids).

While I understand that learning cursive is a good thing. In reality what would rather have your kid learn on a daily basis? Cursive for 15-30 mins a day (or like I mentioned 20 mins twice a month, cursive is not really that hard to learn) or just know that they can read, PRINT, math, science, and art?

 

[nachomama]

I hardly EVER write in cursive. In fact, when I had to address all those envelopes for the wedding I had to look up some letters (I couldn't remember a capital "Q").

My daughter typed up address labels for hers.

She did write out the envelopes for the bridal shower thank you cards though.

 

[jwwb2000]

My daughter is being taught cursive at the Charter School. She has been practicing with it some even before they introduced her to it will all of the learning books I get her.

 

[Hoover]

what about formal writing do you think this is a dead issue? I am writing a term paper on formal or professional writing and how email, texting and other technology has taken away from actually using formal writing. We have more or less gotten away from grammar and proper writing ethics in email and say what and how we want.

 

[frequentflier]

what about formal writing do you think this is a dead issue? I am writing a term paper on formal or professional writing and how email, texting and other technology has taken away from actually using formal writing. We have more or less gotten away from grammar and proper writing ethics in email and say what and how we want.

I LOVE receiving hand written notes and letters. I also LOVE sending them. It takes a lot of effort for me to sit and hand write something personal especially since typing has become the norm.
When I take the time and make the effort to hand write something, people tell me I write like a nun. Thus my Catholic schooling many years ago.
My signature is important and I always write it in cursive. As a retailer, I often see people scribble their names and guess I don't understand it. Are you that rushed to not be able to sign your name legibly? I am proud of my signature!
My Grandfather and Great Aunt, both dead for many years now, both had gorgeous handwriting and I have kept many items that they wrote.

 

[RaspberryBeret]

My oldest goblin was taught cursive and the younger ones are learning it now. They all have beautiful penmanship which they received from MOI not thier daddy
I still believe a beautifully handwritten note holds more meaning than a typed one any day!

 

[frequentflier]

I write almost everything in cursive. Seems my penmenship is much better that way. However, if one wasn't to learn cursive writing, how will one be able to read it? It will still exist in old manuscripts, letters, etc., even if the writing style dies away.

I was tutoring a young lady at junior high level, and she couldn't write in cursive. I spoke directly with her teacher about this and was told, "it isn't necessary, by the time she gets to high school everything she'll do will be on the computer anyway". It made me So I discussed it with her parents and taught her cursive writing anyway.

In that same vein- is learning proper spelling no longer important since computers have spell check?

 

[dustin]

cursive is faster to write than printing for most adults.

however, now that technology has taken over, cursive is now obsolete and teaching it to students has no value in the current times. pure wasted effort. better to spend more time on reading and math skills.