A defense of cursive writing, from the Atlantic:

Opponents of script argue that needing to read and write in cursive is no longer relevant in an increasingly digital society. Some believe that cursive is essentially archaic, the importance of which is relegated only to checks, signatures, and the occasional love letter. They believe instructional time is better devoted to other classroom subjects that are included on standardized tests, and cursive is not necessary for academic achievement. After all, they say, we have computers and speech dictation machines. It’s even been suggested that cursive should be moved to art classes, where it could be more appropriately taught. The quill, and the speed with which cursive allowed the author to express his thoughts, is out of date. The message is clear: cursive just isn’t practical.

On the other side of the equation, cursive advocates and handwriting experts suggest that these reasons miss the point entirely. Saving cursive isn’t about rejecting technology or trying to preserve our history—let alone any perceived societal advancement. (Yes, the arguments get that entrenched, that fast.) Instead, they believe that the importance of cursive is a matter of science, and what’s best for teaching our children.

Read the rest here.

Categories: Exordium

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