The Worst Arguments for Teaching Cursive in Schools
Cursive writing is a dying form of communication. With the rise of technology and digital communication, the importance of cursive writing has dwindled. Despite this, there are still some people who argue that teaching cursive in schools is necessary. However, many of these arguments are flawed and outdated.
One of the worst arguments for teaching cursive in schools is that it improves fine motor skills. While it is true that writing in cursive can help with hand-eye coordination and muscle memory, there are many other activities that can achieve the same benefits. Additionally, cursive is not the only form of handwriting that can contribute to the development of fine motor skills. Therefore, this argument is not strong enough to justify teaching cursive in schools.
Another argument that is frequently made in favor of cursive is that it is necessary for signature identification. However, this argument is flawed because signatures in cursive are not necessarily more unique or distinct than those in print. In fact, many people have very similar cursive signatures, making them just as easy to forge as any other signature. Furthermore, in today’s digital age, most transactions are done electronically, making the use of a signature less important than it once was.
A third argument is that cursive is an important part of history and culture. While it is true that cursive has been used for centuries and is a cultural tradition, this argument alone does not justify teaching it in schools. There are many other cultural traditions that schools do not teach, and just because something has historical significance does not mean it is necessary to learn.
Lastly, some argue that learning cursive improves reading and writing abilities. This argument is not supported by current research. In fact, studies have found that neither cursive nor print handwriting has a significant impact on reading or writing skills. Rather, reading and writing abilities are more closely tied to language development and literacy programs.
In conclusion, the arguments for teaching cursive in schools are weak and outdated. While there may be some benefits to learning cursive, the use and importance of this form of handwriting has declined over time. Therefore, schools should instead focus on teaching skills that are more relevant to today’s digital world.