Recent Enquirer articles discuss the demise of cursive writing and ‘reading’ because teachers no longer have the time to devote to teaching this skill.
Well, many of my contemporaries are appalled by this trend as some even resist owning a home computer or iPhone and do not correspond via email. How are the younger generations going to read letters and documents from the past and how can physicians maintain their reputation as having illegible handwriting? Moreover, one cannot take hardcopy notes as fast when printing.
But, like it or not, we are headed to a paperless society where all transactions and correspondence are carried out electronically with keyboarding. And everyone carries instant electronic connectivity and internet access in their pockets with a mobile device.
It is worrisome that our privacy with be further compromised by this pervasive electronic umbrella. However, the writing is on the wall (no pun intended); cursive, grades for penmanship and the art of flowing calligraphy are rapidly becoming relics of the past. One bright spot is the fact that reading cursive as opposed to writing cursive can be taught in just a few hours. I am trying to perfect my electronic signature.
Is cursive handwriting necessary anymore? And in the future will people even be required to know how to print, and rely fully upon electronics?