"Brian Ketterling" wrote in
message m...
In ,
Bluesea wrote:

"Brian Ketterling" wrote...
...The arguments
against seem shaky and inconsistent, and I wonder how much of it is
parents
who don't want to take the time to help their kids learn to write.

Why lay it on the parents? Teachers teach and either the student cares to
get it or not.

I get you, but what I was referring to was public opinion. A significant
portion of the American public seems to against the teaching of cursive
(or
possibly handwriting in general), and the sentiment that appears to me to
underlay a lot of the commentary is "Ugh, it's too much trouble!". I
wonder
whether people who feel *that* way are really worried that Junior's brain
will be taxed too much -- or rather that they might have to help out.

One anecdote I'll toss in, because it's recent to me: I know someone who
works in a daycare center. She's currently taking classes to keep her
childhood development certification up to date, and in that context she's
concerned with issues like environmental exploration and its attendant
learning opportunities. However, one of her current practical workplace
problems is that an increasing number of parents are bringing in 3, and
even
4 year olds who still aren't potty-trained. When she asks about it, they
grouse "Ain't my problem, that's what I pay YOU tuh do!" It's hard to
picture those same people, a few years down the road, sitting down with
Susie and helping her learn how to form a lowercase "r".

Yes, I see what you mean.

Going OT, my mind is boggled. If the parents are just now bringing their
children to your friend, who was supposed to be potty-training them before
she got them?

Anyway, I expect peer pressure will soon take the problem off her hands
since no child likes being called a baby by other children.

Unfortunately, hand-writing doesn't draw that type of pressure. Only when
one wants a nice pen to hold during meetings and realizes s/he can't write
legible notes or messages will the desire to improve motivate overcoming any
teaching or learning deficit, perhaps.

As for the adults, I speculate on whether it's laziness, misplaced values,
not understanding why it's good to learn old-fashioned techniques (including
but not limited to how to write cursively when one can print or type, how to
work a math problem when one can use a calculator, how to use a map and
compass when one has a GPSr), a widening of the gulf between the haves and
have-nots, a sense of misery loves company, or what.

My thoughts tend toward the erosion of society in general. Poor penmanship
is just another sign of our losing civility.


--
~~Bluesea~~who has been appalled by what some people have said to others
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