General Discussion

Chiquitita

(752 posts)

176. Either it is known to be false propaganda, or you simply don't accept it

Thu Mar 16, 2017, 09:41 AM

Mar 2017

because you haven't seen convincing evidence. There is a lot of conflicting opinion and a variety of interpretations of studies, which is probably why we regularly have arguments on DU about cursive.

The fastest handwriting appears to be a mixed style (good for processing aurally delivered lectures) according to this anti-cursive article:

http://nautil.us/issue/40/learning/cursive-handwriting-and-other-education-myths

On the other hand, "psychologists and neuroscientists say it is far too soon to declare handwriting a relic of the past. New evidence suggests that the links between handwriting and broader educational development run deep," according to this one: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=0

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My high school senior nephew cannot read or write cursive [View all] jpak Mar 2017 OP

Really? No way?? How benld74 Mar 2017 #1

Apparently it is not taught in school anymore jpak Mar 2017 #4

I totally mis-read your post benld74 Mar 2017 #6

Sad jpak Mar 2017 #9

Is he interested in learning? vlyons Mar 2017 #126

Can he shoe a horse, thatch a roof, make candles, or operate a telegraph? FSogol Mar 2017 #2

He can't read his great grandmother's letters jpak Mar 2017 #5

Does he have some cognitive difficulties? Hassin Bin Sober Mar 2017 #10

No - he is super smart and reads several real books a week - every week. jpak Mar 2017 #14

This is what I predicted PatSeg Mar 2017 #210

See my post #22 below. nt tblue37 Mar 2017 #25

Teach him to read cursive. Like calligraphy, it is not really a needed skill that schools should FSogol Mar 2017 #13

But it is a good skill LisaM Mar 2017 #33

How can reading cursive enhance motor skills? Thor_MN Mar 2017 #67

Writing it is the skill. That is generally how people learn to read it. LisaM Mar 2017 #127

But the post you replied to did not suggest learning to write it, just read it. Thor_MN Mar 2017 #138

I guess I saw it as a broader issue..... LisaM Mar 2017 #177

You used "it". You clearly did not read the post you replied to. Thor_MN Mar 2017 #232

Please stop. LisaM Mar 2017 #233

Please stop yourself. I don't think writing cursive is of nuch value. Thor_MN Mar 2017 #234

Why Writing by Hand Cound Make You Smarter Petrushka Mar 2017 #129

You missed the point. Thor_MN Mar 2017 #141

I hand write things and I know how to write cursive...I never use it. brooklynite Mar 2017 #146

I disagree....It's hardly as anachronistic as caligraohy whathehell Mar 2017 #36

Also encourages artistic abilities CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #77

Yes.. whathehell Mar 2017 #150

Teach it in art class? Adrahil Mar 2017 #167

If he wants to read them, he should learn to read cursive. Mariana Mar 2017 #98

YES! Orrex Mar 2017 #162

Can you do something to improve the grandmother's cursive? AtheistCrusader Mar 2017 #188

I bet his great grandmother couldn't code in java, though. Warren DeMontague Mar 2017 #255

a better question would be if the most well-educated Chiquitita Mar 2017 #15

When I was in grade school jpak Mar 2017 #21

And ALL of them MyOwnPeace Mar 2017 #61

Thank you.. whathehell Mar 2017 #39

Thank you Idoru Mar 2017 #40

That's fine, but.... Adrahil Mar 2017 #64

Teaching forming the letters Chiquitita Mar 2017 #158

That's propaganda Orrex Mar 2017 #163

Either it is known to be false propaganda, or you simply don't accept it Chiquitita Mar 2017 #176

I have seen the pro-cursive evidence, but I I don't find it convincing. Orrex Mar 2017 #183

Ha ha! I'd forgotten. Chiquitita Mar 2017 #186

LOL--and I replied to it with great verbosity Orrex Mar 2017 #191

I read it and this was my reply Chiquitita Mar 2017 #197

I agree! Chiquitita Mar 2017 #208

MAGA sarcasmo Mar 2017 #54

My Morse is rusty, Mendocino Mar 2017 #91

Nothing really disappears, there are still blacksmiths. FSogol Mar 2017 #181

Why, I'll bet his buggy-whip skills are atrocious. lagomorph777 Mar 2017 #179

My mother, who died in '92, wrote beautiful cursive. I still have her letters to me from Solly Mack Mar 2017 #3

Typewriters were around for more than a century before the internet jpak Mar 2017 #8

I still enjoy receiving handwritten letters. Solly Mack Mar 2017 #16

My mom and grandfather had a beautiful "hand". panader0 Mar 2017 #90

I hope they keep it. Solly Mack Mar 2017 #110

and handwritten thank you notes were de rigeur. On cream colored cards. CTyankee Mar 2017 #242

Neither can my 17 year old grandson. AJT Mar 2017 #7

Would you believe some kiddos can't tell time - TIME - from asiliveandbreathe Mar 2017 #11

I'm 36 crazycatlady Mar 2017 #26

I grew up with military time (USAF brat / entlisted) Skittles Mar 2017 #76

You have a watch with a 24-hour dial? JustABozoOnThisBus Mar 2017 #147

24-hour time makes more sense going from 0-23, rather than 24-1-23 Silent3 Mar 2017 #164

I have....no idea what "watch your six o'clock" means Skittles Mar 2017 #228

"Watch your six" JustABozoOnThisBus Mar 2017 #229

huh Skittles Mar 2017 #238

Interesting... Stellar Mar 2017 #153

Thanks to Velcro, some never learn to tie shoelaces, either. nt tblue37 Mar 2017 #28

To me, analog clocks help with the concept of tome. LisaM Mar 2017 #32

WHAT?? Idoru Mar 2017 #34

I've had to teach HS juniors "clockwise". Igel Mar 2017 #55

This is a failure on the parents part Idoru Mar 2017 #92

I bought BOTH my grandsons small watches so they could learn to read Jim Beard Mar 2017 #124

I'm 64 and I have trouble reading a dial clock face csziggy Mar 2017 #83

Did you ever have a watch with a dial? muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #137

Yes, but both my older sister and I have a problem - watches stop working csziggy Mar 2017 #144

Your comment about age reminded me of something. AtheistCrusader Mar 2017 #223

Eventually they will have to drop that test because fewer and fewer can pass it! csziggy Mar 2017 #230

That's a parental thing. AtheistCrusader Mar 2017 #190

My daughter can't janterry Mar 2017 #12

I can't read my own. safeinOhio Mar 2017 #17

Does he use a quill pen? Nevernose Mar 2017 #18

It's faster. Igel Mar 2017 #62

It's faster for some people, not for others. Mariana Mar 2017 #112

More likely, there'll be an app for that. Silent3 Mar 2017 #182

Already exists. AtheistCrusader Mar 2017 #192

I'd give up cursive, such that it is, to be able to double thumb a phone keyboard. Hoyt Mar 2017 #19

That sounds dirty jpak Mar 2017 #23

You have a point. Hoyt Mar 2017 #43

Daily postl winner !!! pangaia Mar 2017 #71

they've been phasing it out for a while Afromania Mar 2017 #20

I wonder why that is? NWCorona Mar 2017 #94

Takes away from common core I suppose Afromania Mar 2017 #100

I don't remember cursive instruction involving any creativity. Mariana Mar 2017 #128

Where I went to school Afromania Mar 2017 #212

It is a common problem among my college students. They cannot read my comments on their tblue37 Mar 2017 #22

Its not a problem. Its a decision by some people not to teach their children msanthrope Mar 2017 #35

Not to bust your chops too hard.... Adrahil Mar 2017 #60

Oh, thank you............. MyOwnPeace Mar 2017 #75

When writing an in-class essay or exam they are not allowed to use electronic devices, tblue37 Mar 2017 #113

I am loving this thread for the different insights. clarkrd Mar 2017 #123

Sure. As you indicate so clearly, being able to hand write Hortensis Mar 2017 #134

Being able to write in exam books more quickly... Adrahil Mar 2017 #166

You can write plain hand with a quill....and commoners did. msanthrope Mar 2017 #143

You can.... Adrahil Mar 2017 #165

So cursive is really white privilege? GulfCoast66 Mar 2017 #69

It's interesting that a Quaker school is demeaning cursive csziggy Mar 2017 #111

Dude....just because kids don't write cursive doesn't mean they can't read it. msanthrope Mar 2017 #142

It was implicit in your comment that cursive could not be read if not written csziggy Mar 2017 #148

No, it wasn't "implicit." You inferred that using cursive was a successful means to msanthrope Mar 2017 #151

Some can, but many who don't write cursive also cannot read it. nt tblue37 Mar 2017 #220

Wish I'd read that post first. Thread over. Orrex Mar 2017 #157

written language taught to over privileged whites so that their servants could not see their letters cwydro Mar 2017 #169

I have no doubt of their penmanship skills. But, are you advocating that their education msanthrope Mar 2017 #193

My point was in regard to your comment that cusive was some sort of privilege. cwydro Mar 2017 #200

Cursive was a privilege. So was literacy. nt msanthrope Mar 2017 #213

Don't most of them take notes on a tablet or phone? Adrahil Mar 2017 #65

How do students taking notes on tablet or phone draw a diagram? muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #139

With a stylus TransitJohn Mar 2017 #196

On a phone? Tiny area (nt) muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #199

Not on today's phones n/t kcr Mar 2017 #204

They're not even A5 size muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #206

I'm trying to think how hard it would be to self-learn cursive as an adult. xor Mar 2017 #118

There are books available, written for adults Mariana Mar 2017 #122

I wonder how many people use those? xor Mar 2017 #243

Just like any other skill people learn after they leave school Mariana Mar 2017 #245

You're arguing that they should learn a moribund skill for your convenience Orrex Mar 2017 #159

What's a blackboard? TransitJohn Mar 2017 #194

Those damn doctor's presciption's ruined it for everyone! dubyadiprecession Mar 2017 #24

In college I was mocked for writing in cursive TlalocW Mar 2017 #27

Good. My daughter's Quaker school did not teach cursive because of its elitist origin. msanthrope Mar 2017 #29

It's also a slap in the face for southpaws Orrex Mar 2017 #161

I am a lefty...and frustrated my grade school nuns who tied my left hand down msanthrope Mar 2017 #195

You're lucky that they didn't hack your hand from your wrist and burn it. Orrex Mar 2017 #201

you had lefty scissors ? rickford66 Mar 2017 #252

The ones I had in school were about as effective as rubbing two marbles together Orrex Mar 2017 #253

We do adapt to the righty stuff rickford66 Mar 2017 #258

One modern equivalent to that... Orrex Mar 2017 #259

The very first time I used a mouse I decided to use both hands rickford66 Mar 2017 #260

It was developed because a running script made efficient use of a quill... Act_of_Reparation Mar 2017 #168

Um, you realize Cursive is older than the 'general population' being able to read AT ALL right? AtheistCrusader Mar 2017 #221

It's really easy, and quite a useful skill. nt JEFF9K Mar 2017 #30

I had read that college admitting officers were have a hard time getting LiberalArkie Mar 2017 #31

a signature is whatever the fuck you want it to be. msanthrope Mar 2017 #37

Why didn't his parrents kacekwl Mar 2017 #38

I taught my daughter the social justice origins of cursive, rather than cursive. nt msanthrope Mar 2017 #41

Oh FFS, where do you get this stuff from?!?!? X_Digger Mar 2017 #88

The Quakers. Think they might have a better handle on social justice than a tv msanthrope Mar 2017 #140

If what you are suggesting is correct about what they teach, then no. They don't. AtheistCrusader Mar 2017 #224

I'll trust historians, not a bunch of religious nuts, thanks. X_Digger Mar 2017 #237

The History Channel? And as an atheist, I'm disgusted you would broad-brush the Friends like msanthrope Mar 2017 #239

That was the first link of many, if you google 'the history of cursive writing'. X_Digger Mar 2017 #240

You really have it out for cursive don't you GulfCoast66 Mar 2017 #117

Oh, my! TexasMommaWithAHat Mar 2017 #236

Exactly! Duppers Mar 2017 #175

I was shocked to find out the same thing about my grandson Rorey Mar 2017 #42

I woke up in the middle of the night once WhiteTara Mar 2017 #44

Are you Gen X? bunnies Mar 2017 #81

I'm Gen X, and I can barely write cursive. I can read it but I was trained in paleography as an anneboleyn Mar 2017 #93

Really? bunnies Mar 2017 #99

My grandmother passed last year, clarkrd Mar 2017 #107

If you wanted to read those letters, and couldn't do it Mariana Mar 2017 #136

I would definitely drag myself carcass to a library or bookstore. bunnies Mar 2017 #173

I'm a baby boomer WhiteTara Mar 2017 #187

I love my stick! bunnies Mar 2017 #202

My grandmother WhiteTara Mar 2017 #211

Cursive can help kids with dyslexia. I'm teaching it to my kids. EllieBC Mar 2017 #45

As a dyslexic I can attest to this... Docreed2003 Mar 2017 #74

It's rather simple, really........... MyOwnPeace Mar 2017 #80

I think it's invaluable... Docreed2003 Mar 2017 #89

My first grade daughter can read cursive... cbdo2007 Mar 2017 #46

They are literally not teaching it at all in my grandsons' school. Except for signatures. LAS14 Mar 2017 #95

My 20 year old had a teacher in high school that required all essays to be written in cursive. izzybella Mar 2017 #47

I make my university students write out their recitation assigments jpak Mar 2017 #52

I pretty much always write my notes out by hand. xor Mar 2017 #121

30 years of cursive Afromania Mar 2017 #102

I know that learning to write cursive is really hard for some kids TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #48

I can teach left handed kids to write cursive. Blue_true Mar 2017 #246

I agree TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #250

I'm going to go google how to write a capitol Q clarkrd Mar 2017 #49

That's funny Rorey Mar 2017 #51

Here ya go jpak Mar 2017 #56

He was so good! NWCorona Mar 2017 #97

Kinda looks like a fancy number 2. NT Adrahil Mar 2017 #68

Looks like a fancy #2 CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #78

That's odd - perhaps it's an American thing? I've never come across that in Britain muriel_volestrangler Mar 2017 #145

You loop an "O" and at the bottom of the loop quickly reverse the stroke, do a tight Blue_true Mar 2017 #247

Younger people can't count back change either Rorey Mar 2017 #50

I didn't learn to count back change Mariana Mar 2017 #133

ROFL about the bushels and pecks Rorey Mar 2017 #149

Or drive a Manual car. sarcasmo Mar 2017 #53

OR GET OFF OF MY LAWN!!!111 jpak Mar 2017 #58

We were allowed to ditch all cursive in the sixth grade JenniferJuniper Mar 2017 #57

After fifth grade, we could write how we wanted to. Blue_true Mar 2017 #248

My cursive was only good if I spent time on it; JenniferJuniper Mar 2017 #257

My #2 son is a college sophomore studying physics. Laffy Kat Mar 2017 #59

Hoo controlles sppel chekk& jpak Mar 2017 #66

Is it a particular person's handwriting that he can't read, or ecstatic Mar 2017 #63

Cursive in general jpak Mar 2017 #70

My writing is a mix of printing and cursive. roamer65 Mar 2017 #72

I am an academic and my handwriting is TERRIBLE. I am a Gen Xer and by high school we were anneboleyn Mar 2017 #96

Another Gen-Xer here with horrible handwriting kcr Mar 2017 #207

Sad. northoftheborder Mar 2017 #73

You know what this means? Generic Brad Mar 2017 #79

Hahaha! bunnies Mar 2017 #82

What are they going to do with old handwritten items CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #84

Right. No one will ever learn to read cursive on their own. Mariana Mar 2017 #106

That's what I have been wondering as I read this thread! csziggy Mar 2017 #109

neither can my son, the magnum cum laude, 1st in his class. mopinko Mar 2017 #85

It is the only way I can still write CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #86

I write lefty rickford66 Mar 2017 #87

You had a bad writing teacher. nt Blue_true Mar 2017 #249

I love cursive and the benefits to the brain from learning it is NWCorona Mar 2017 #101

I keep pointing this out LWolf Mar 2017 #171

They're not even teaching it GP6971 Mar 2017 #103

Good ghostsinthemachine Mar 2017 #104

Want to have a laugh? grantcart Mar 2017 #105

HAHAHA retrowire Mar 2017 #217

It's more of a comment on how technology, while helping grantcart Mar 2017 #226

I do agree that there's an overreliance on technology retrowire Mar 2017 #231

One more reason I hated school... cursive. hunter Mar 2017 #108

They'll be teaching Russian cursive soon enough NamesDave Mar 2017 #114

LOL treestar Mar 2017 #160

I always thought they included cursive writng in curriculums b/c of the cognitive benefits AgadorSparticus Mar 2017 #115

I guess not many people travel to Cursia any more, so there's not much call to speak it. Binkie The Clown Mar 2017 #116

I have several letters, written by one of my paternal... 3catwoman3 Mar 2017 #119

If you can't test it on a computer AwakeAtLast Mar 2017 #120

wow MFM008 Mar 2017 #125

But if he can tweet he can be Precedent Rollo Mar 2017 #130

I'm close to two young people who can't read or write cursive. democrank Mar 2017 #131

I don't see that it matters. If a young person wanted to learn cursive, say raccoon Mar 2017 #132

I can't either and I graduated in 1977 whistler162 Mar 2017 #135

I'm 50 years old and have trouble reading cursive. wcast Mar 2017 #152

Important skill, since so many letters and records are in cursive wishstar Mar 2017 #154

Good. It's a worthless skill on which no class time should be wasted. Orrex Mar 2017 #155

Do you like art? For me it is like air and water...it sustains life. Chiquitita Mar 2017 #185

This message was self-deleted by its author Orrex Mar 2017 #189

Experimenting with handwriting in school Mariana Mar 2017 #218

I must be showing my age because I can't even imagine this. Vinca Mar 2017 #156

Same here- thankful I can read my Quaker ancestors' diaries and wills and letters wishstar Mar 2017 #184

What interesting relatives! Vinca Mar 2017 #219

I enjoyed growing up in old house with attic full of letters, diaries and old postcards wishstar Mar 2017 #222

Lucky you. Unfortunately, my ancestors weren't keepers. Vinca Mar 2017 #227

My 19 YO had 3 weeks of cursive instruction in 3rd grade mcar Mar 2017 #170

LOL HAB911 Mar 2017 #172

I don't understand being unable to read cursive. It's the same letters. betsuni Mar 2017 #174

Neither can I and I'm in my 50s lagomorph777 Mar 2017 #178

If you don't write in some form of cursive, what is the alternative? SharonClark Mar 2017 #180

Good. OCR can't scan cursive, so better to print anyway. L. Coyote Mar 2017 #198

Well it's not a skill we need too much anymore Kimchijeon Mar 2017 #203

So, I'm just curious. How does one sign his/her name when they cannot write in cursive? hamsterjill Mar 2017 #215

There have always been people who lettered their signatures. Mariana Mar 2017 #225

The thread that never dies jpak Mar 2017 #205

So teach him, then... Blue_Tires Mar 2017 #209

Neither can my nephew retrowire Mar 2017 #214

Don't worry. As long as he can replace the tubes in a black and white television set, mahatmakanejeeves Mar 2017 #216

I hope he never studies history to any great degree. WinkyDink Mar 2017 #235

He wants to be a historian jpak Mar 2017 #244

Don't people have to write checks and sign them? CTyankee Mar 2017 #241

Why is it any sadder than your nephew not being able to drive a buggy and a horse team? Algernon Moncrieff Mar 2017 #251

You're comparing apples to wood logs. Exilednight Mar 2017 #261

There are tablets that convert your chicken scratch of choice to text Algernon Moncrieff Mar 2017 #262

Reading cursive... Mike Nelson Mar 2017 #254

Fortunately, my son's school teaches and requires cursive aikoaiko Mar 2017 #256