Writing: Does it matter how?
September 8, 2008 at 7:18 pm (Education, Technology)
The biggest shock at work this week came when I spent time with one of the high school groups. On my second day with them, and after telling them a little bit about myself, I asked them to write a short bio.
The first kid asked, “Can we do it on our laptop?” (Every student in the secondary wing gets a laptop on loan from the school.) There were only 15 minutes of class left, so I said no, that we didn’t have time for all of them to go out, get their laptops, and get started.
“But we all have our laptops with us,” piped up another student pointing to his bag on the floor.
“Really? How long will it take you to get set up?” I asked.
“Like, thirty seconds!”
After giving them the go ahead, I had 20 students sitting in front of me with open laptops. Wow! I think it’s wonderful, but that’s only half the story.
The next day, I wrote a tongue twister on the board as a warm-up before the students were to do mini presentations.
“Some of us can’t read what you wrote on the board,” a kid on my left exclaims.
“Oh, is there not enough light? Or maybe the sun is reflecting off the board?”
I start walking toward the light switches when a few of them say, “No, no, it’s the writing…the letters like that, all connected!” I was floored.
Cursive writing is a skill usually taught in grade four, but apparently these kids either didn’t learn it or forgot how to do it. When I asked whether or not they had learned cursive writing, I was told, “Yeah, a little bit, but we don’t need it anymore!” The kid points to his laptop.
So, is cursive writing going by the wayside? When I told my story to another high school teacher, she mentioned that many kids don’t know how to write cursive, although some can read it.
Interesting discoveries this week, and this was only one of them. I’ll have to keep using this font for my blog!
Fawn said,
September 8, 2008 at 10:54 pm
OMG! Not able to read cursive! Now I feel old!
Meandering Michael said,
September 9, 2008 at 10:33 am
OMG! LOL!
Baino said,
September 9, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Well I can read cursive but please don’t keep that font for your blog! Because it is hard to read! hehe. I’m a left-hander and always write backhand so my kids are used to the cacky hand. Makes you wonder with the advent of the PC whether in fact ornary cursive will become a calligraphic art!
Carole said,
September 9, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Yup, I felt a little old too! And nope, I won’t be using that font for my blog. It was only to make a point.
Personally, I think there will always be room for handwriting. It’s just more practical in some situations, though printing works just as well even if it’s a little slower. What’s really gone by the wayside is shorthand.
Tammy said,
September 9, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Seriously?! They can’t read cursive? That’s horrible!! I admit, most of students do not write in cursive, but I assumed it was still being used!
Kara said,
September 9, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Hi, my name is Kara and I hate cursive writing. I have been cursive free since the end of grade 5. With the wonderful support of my family, laptop and husband I have been able to keep myself cursive free this entire time.
hehehe I hate hate hate cursive!! I had a crap-tac-ular teacher when we were supposed to learn this stuff, and I just never took to it. I have no clue how to write cursive anymore, but I can still make it out okay. I am with the kids- toss cursive! hehe leave it to you old people out there!
Carole said,
September 10, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Good one Kara! lol I don’t know what to say, really. I’ll have to find out if it’s being taught and to what extent.
Jackie S. Quire said,
November 27, 2008 at 10:45 am
I’m with Kara, I’ve always been a printer, and always will be. My mother was allllways on my case to use my “writing” but I just hated the way it looked. And I was always a little anal retentive when it came to neatness in my notebooks and school work. So I printed. And I still do.
Though every now and then I’ll come across one of those cool “learn how to cursive write” books and get the cursive writing bug, and try and replicate what they do on the dotted lines.
Never lasts long though!