The unwritten word
http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Provocations/stop_teaching_handwriting
I hated learning cursive handwriting in school. Hated it, hated it. Boring stupid pointless waste of time. My handwriting today is what it was in third grade. Readable, but not elegant or precise. And it doesn't matter much. Ever since high school, nearly all my professional text output is typed.
Formal calligraphy is a lovely art form with thousands of years of history. People who are good at it should be honored. But it doesn't deserve to be a core subject in elementary school. Beyond the practical ability to write readable words, I think the time could be better spent on other subjects.
I hated learning cursive handwriting in school. Hated it, hated it. Boring stupid pointless waste of time. My handwriting today is what it was in third grade. Readable, but not elegant or precise. And it doesn't matter much. Ever since high school, nearly all my professional text output is typed.
Formal calligraphy is a lovely art form with thousands of years of history. People who are good at it should be honored. But it doesn't deserve to be a core subject in elementary school. Beyond the practical ability to write readable words, I think the time could be better spent on other subjects.