Why is cursive writing important?

[Govinda]

Just that really?

My eleven year olds handwriting looks so messy and horrible compared to if he didnt join it up. All his homework sheets say that they have to do it in joined up writing. I remember getting taught this in primary school myself but as soon as I went to highschool I stopped doing it. Just wondering why its so important?

Because the curriculum says so - without it, your child cannot be awarded an 'expected' teacher assessment, only 'working towards'.

There is evidence that it's worth developing fluent cursive handwriting as motor memory helps with accurate spelling and writing quickly when note taking helps retain new knowledge. Most people write faster when not stopping and starting after each letter so this can be an advantage in tests/exams

Thanks. That makes sense. I guess because I never physically write anymore and always use a computer I never thought of it as a necessary skill but perhaps it is useful for exams etc.

I imagine when people used to wrote more the sun advantage to cursive handwriting is that it can be done much quicker. I barely write anything by hand now though.

There is strong evidence that we remember more of what we write by hand than what we type so it's important for note taking (unless you know shorthand) when you need to write as quickly as the speaker.

Because people will judge him if he's an adult with the handwriting of a child.

JJPP123. I take it you have completed GCSE, AL, and degree level exams! All of which are timed and handwritten. It is well worth developing a strong, fast, legible written writing style. It makes the exam process a whole lot easier. After that you can relax and stick to keyboards!

Not just you Buzz ...many employers now ask for a handwritten covering letter with applications.

Ive got a degree and never used cursive writing in my exams at high school or University. Mainly because I wanted my writing to be legible to markers and I write far neater when not joining up. I can understand the benefit though if you practice enough to get it neat if it speeds things up.

Its funny buzz you think of non cursive as looking like childs handwriting but I hardly know any adults who write in cursive. Right now I'm looking at my sons teachers feedback on his jotters (all parents to look through this weekend and give feedback) she hasn't used cursive anywhere and I wouldn't say her writing looks childlike in any way. My sons writing on the other hand.......

I'm 48 and wasn't taught to write in a cursive script (or taught the times tables, strangely). I've developed a semi-joined style of writing, but I can certainly write as quickly as anyone else who joins up entirely. I don't think my handwriting looks childish either.

Maybe it's my age (47) or my education.

I rate cursive script as a life skill, like knowing how to hold cutlery.

I have 2 teenagers who both have lovely, flowing handwriting and like me, take pleasure in a nice pen!

I honestly don't know any adults who don't use cursive (I'm thinking about Christmas and birthday cards etc all beautifully written)

I started primary in Scotland in 1974 and I don't remember ever being taught cursive writing - I don't think it was the 'in' thing in our area. I do remember a lot of girls developed a really circular, wide way of writing characters, although mine didn't look like that.

I do reckon that writing itself is the life skill, rather than how it looks. If the writing is legible then the skill is learned and useful. Many people with cursive script have handwriting that is so difficult to read that it can't be counted as a means of communication! That's not a useful life skill!

I'm in Scotland too. Maybe it was always less important here then than other places. In fact I remember a science teacher specifically saying to us to write non joined up because he couldn't read it.

It seems to be very important in my sons school now though hense my original question. Thanks for everyones input.

Due to a disability my dc will be very unlikely to have lovely handwriting and struggle with stamina when writing too. It is a shame that so many people have prejudices against them based on their genetic disability. Neat handwriting is one of the least of their worries though so won't dwell on it too long. Govinda you could investigate seeing an OT.

It's bull. my daughter's handwriting was clear and legible. then came cursive writing. she's slower trying to join up and her letters can't be read.

I personally had the experience in high school of my French teacher not marking my homework for 2.5 terms because my handwriting was so messy (though every other class teacher managed). Yes more than half a school term not having your progress checked (year 10), because of one teacher's inability to put her handwriting prejudice aside.

school 'year' not term. more than half the school year no marking

If they ever work in a job where note taking is important then that will be where it comes in useful. I'm now senior enough not to have to do minutes but there's no way I could have coped without it in my early career.

It's much easier to write fluently at speed with cursive handwriting.
With gcse being exam driven with lots of extended writing it's my students who are still printing who end up writing answers that are too short and they struggle to get everything down in time.

I'm not fussed about perfect cursive handwriting but I do expect fluent legible handwriting

In my view adults cursive handwriting looks puerile.

DD did her GCSEs last year and she wrote everything in all caps. Especially her English teachers moaned and complained and begged her to not write like that.

She didn’t get marked down on the exams. They did try to see if she could do it on laptop, but she was slower on there.

tyGalore
You really think this looks childishly silly?

Scribblegirl 're minutes that's what I have shorthand for. Shorthand can be learned or made up by yourself. Many people do it. Whether they have cursive or not. It's faster.

Allpizzas I've never seen such neat
cursive in real life. No adult I've ever seen write has handwriting that looks like that.

AllPizzasGreatAndSmall Yes, I fully admit to be biased but I have always associated overly neat and cutsey handwriting such as in your sample with lower level of education. The smartest and most educated people I know scribble. Very bright children often get frustrated with the time it takes to do cursive writing because their thoughts move faster than their little hands.