Cursive Writing

In or about 2010, school standards were changed in an effort to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live. During this time The Common Core standards were implemented and seemed to spell the end of the cursive writing style when they dropped requirements in elementary schools.

In grades 1 through 8, I learned the Palmer Method writing style. Palmer’s method involved arm muscle motion, slanting letters rather than using the fingers to move while writing. It was hard practicing the endless rows of capitols and lower case letters not to mention joining them together to make each word.

Today, almost all writing in our digital age is done with a computer. I find myself apologizing when I write in cursive now and often remark “If the Nuns saw what I just wrote I’d be clapping erasers for months”. Older Americans mastered their writing and to witness the beauty of this skill to me is an art form.

My weapon of choice was a blue Bic Ballpoint Pen. Not the most elegant writing apparatus compared to a Mont Blanc, but it did the job and gave me something to chew on during tough exams. I remember having a callus on the left side of my middle finger from holding pen so tightly with my thumb. All my children now print when they write… it seems at best plain and the romance seems to be lost even in a love letter.

It’s Artistic

Cursive is a lost art. Scratch that. It’s an art. It’s not lost quite yet. When you write in cursive, you are encouraged to embrace your artistic side. It’s a style of penmanship that connects the neighboring letters together, adding a few loops and leans along the way, and it adds gravitas no matter what you’re writing.

So why should we write in cursive?

Well for one thing I think it is faster, connected and more beautiful. Cursive adds style and panache to even the most mundane things such as a thank you note, grocery-shopping list or a receipt. Dragging out your old fancy handwriting skills may even encourage you to write more letters.

Try sending a hand written note to someone you love….. Take your time… the traditional way!