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Goodbye to cursive writing?
By KBell in According to K
October 3, 2011

There's a fifth-grade memory that haunts me to this day.

I was a speller -- one hell of a speller in my day, and at a very young age, I'd made it my purpose in life to earn 100 percent on every one of my spelling tests.

I breezed through most tests and always anticipated seeing that red "100" on top of my weekly displays of brilliance.

One day, I saw in bright red a "9/10" on my test. My teacher counted a spelling word wrong because I didn't add the last squiggly that's supposed to come off the top of a cursive "w." She said without the squiggly (is there a proper term?), the letter could very well be a "u" ......... because, it makes sense that the grade's best speller would one day decide to end a word with two u's?

I cried after that test. My life's goal was ruined and all because of a cursive "w."

OK, so perhaps I'm a little dramatic to do this story, but I want to take a look at the pros and cons of teaching cursive writing.

By far the majority of most schools still teach the manuscript style, but whether it's increased attention on standardized exams or the influx of technology, some people are asking if the practice is worthwhile.

There are benefits to learning cursive, some say, like preserving an art form or the kinesthetic practice that enhances a student's ability to read and write.

But check out this round-up of places that are questioning the value of teaching penmanship in light of technology and new curriculum that no longer make the lessons mandatory.

I stopped writing in cursive as soon as it stopped being required in school, and I couldn't tell you how to make a capital "Q" to earn 100 percent on any spelling test these days.

Do you write in cursive?

Do you think schools should continue to teach cursive? Why? Why not?