The Pros And Cons Of Cursive Writing

Pros and Cons of Cursive Writing

Kids today can Skype, build a blog, and tag a friend. But how many of these modern communicators can still read and write cursive?

Fewer than ever before, studies show. Penmanship is going the way of a lost art, even in homeschools.

“Handwriting is 50 percent of literacy, but children are seeing less and less formal handwriting instruction,” said Toni Schulken, a child occupational therapist who is dedicated to increasing writing literacy.

Vanderbilt University research reveals that children spend just ten minutes a day practicing print and cursive. In many homeschools, parents are simply too buried in lesson plans to squeeze in penmanship. In an effort to keep up with core subjects, some teachers are asking themselves, “What lessons can I forgo?”

Consider the pros and cons of teaching a child to read and write cursive:

Pros of Teaching Cursive to Children

- Students are more literate if they can read and write cursive, and it allows them to communicate with older generations, like family members.

- Students can sign their names, a standard requirement as an adult.

- Students will have a tool they can apply later in life that gives them more options.

- Students can gain a practical life skill that is becoming a lost art.

- Students will be able to take notes faster in college. Printing letters, which requires raising and lowering the pencil or pen point for each letter, slows you down, as opposed to cursive, where you only have to raise and lower the point at the beginning and end of each word.

Now, let’s look at reasons to skip penmanship.

Cons of Teaching Cursive to Children

- It can take time away from core or more “relevant” subjects.

- It can be time-consuming and frustrating for parents.

- If students don’t use the skill regularly, they could forget it.

- Penmanship is not as valued in education and society as it once