…and I’m okay with that rant!

For my online group we were asked to create something in cursive. I am of a generation that was indeed taught handwriting, so I can write and read cursive. I have nieces and nephews that cannot. Why is that? As part of the prompt I looked up why handwriting and cursive is no longer taught in schools. The culprit is called Common Core 2010. It determined that in a modern age the keyboard is king, hence no further need for students to learn handwriting. I can’t tell you how ridiculous I find that overarching decision. So I created this piece using mostly cursive to express my “rant” about students no longer being taught handwriting…it got out of hand, and I like it!

This issue hit home when one of my nephews graduated from college. His grandmother, my Mom, wrote him a lovely note to go along with his gift. He couldn’t read it…so he handed it to his girlfriend who read it to him. Which means his generation cannot read the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, or the Magna Carta!!! Nothing that is written in script. Ridiculous! So I continued my rant on this piece and it got out of hand…and I’m still okay with that.

Parents are now taking their children to handwriting classes, much like being tutored in Math. Because they cannot read nor understand things that were written before 2010, if it is written in cursive. And I get it, times change. People make decisions based on preparing students for the future. But why leave behind the beauty, glory and important documents from more that 2000 years of history? I believe educators missed the boat on this one…and so my rant went on!

So let me encourage you to read and write cursive. It is not irrelevant, the keyboard is not king, and we do need to be able to read, study and understand documents of any kind from before 2010. Being able to express your thoughts and ideas with a flowing hand, in cursive that reflects your personality is a gift! Handwriting serves as an example of individuality, emotion, care and personal style. Cursive is beautiful, unique, and brings a magical life to the written word. And so my rant goes on in support and protest for people and schools to teach children cursive…and I’m okay with that rant! Join me in celebrating the handwritten word!