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Melanie Goodman's avatar

I hope you’re recovering well 🤗I do still write in cursive, mostly for birthday cards and the odd proper letter, and there is a quiet steadiness in it that no keyboard has ever given me. The part about reading old family handwriting caught me, because my grandmother’s script is half the reason her letters still feel like her. Has your own handwriting changed much since the days you were first taught it at school?

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

Thank you, Melanie, yes…better every day.

And I so resonate with your comment that when I see a loved one’s handwriting, it brings them close to my heart and mind, even if they’ve been gone a long time.

My handwriting has changed quite a bit over the years as evidenced by old journals and letters. I’d like to writer smaller, and often start a page with smaller letters, but invariably I end up at my default size.

Kathi C. Laughman's avatar

I used to take pride in having good handwriting, but over time (aging?), it seemed less legible. So I started either typing and slipping those notes into cards or just printing. But the legibility of the printing wasn't always that much better, but then I realized it's all about taking our time. There isn't anything about aging that means we can't continue to have good handwriting, even beautiful, if we're willing to take the time. And, of course, wear the right glasses! Ha! So thanks for this - I'm back on track to write again - encouraging the young ones that get the notes from me to be able to read them.

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

You are my poster child for writing notes and cards to the special young people in your life. I'm sure they're happy to get your mail no matter how you do it.

Felice Cohen's avatar

Yea!!! And glad it's going in the right direction!!

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

Me too! Got your great card today. Thank you so much!

Tess | Beyond the Grind Life's avatar

When my nephew was in high school, I gave him a card with a congratulations note and money inside. He came to me and said, "Aunt Tess, I cannot read your note." 😪

I'm so glad to see a cursive revival!

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

Perfect example, Tess. I wonder if that generation will ever be motivated to learn.

Kathryn Haueisen's avatar

You are so right. Removing cursive was one of the worse decisions professional educators have ever made. I'm glad to see them reversing it.

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

Me too! So incredibly short-sighted.

Maureen Santini's avatar

Sometimes sanity prevails!

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

Haha…not often enough, but I’ll take it when I can get it! 🤣

Shannon Hood's avatar

These are heartening stats! I hope it continues to become normalized again for children to learn to write in cursive.

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

Me too, Shannon! I totally understand the need for keyboard skills, but dropping the teaching of cursive is so short-sighted.

Jools's avatar

FINALLY. I was heartbroken and amazed when I learned “the younger generation” could not read cursive.

And, thank you for the science factoids behind writing. I have been telling my team of employees that taking notes by hand provides better retention!

Elizabeth H. Cottrell's avatar

That was my reaction too, Jools...relief that finally the trend was turning back. And yes, while it's really tempting to take notes (classroom, training event, meeting) with a computer, the evidence is pretty compelling that you'll retain the information longer and more accurately if you write by hand. Thanks for reading and commenting!