A recent discussion when my whole family was gathered together has really had me thinking. My cousin Jennifer told us that her son, Braden's, teacher was making him learn how to hold a pencil "correctly" - and that sparked enough controversy - but that wasn't what struck me. She brought out a piece of paper on which Braden had been practicing his cursive, to show us how legible his handwriting was without correction, and I was struck by the fact that he was voluntarily practicing his cursive. You see, if you don't have kids, or don't pay very close attention to the media (as I occasionally do), you might not know: Public schools have decided not to teach children how to write in cursive anymore. The explanation is that typing skills are much more relevant in today's society, and learning cursive just isn't necessary anymore.
While this may be true, it truly frightens me. I feel like this is just a small step away from deciding not to teach children to write at all.
About a year ago I read the Matched series by Ally Condie. It is a very fun, three-part, young adult fictional series that reminded me quite a bit of Farenheit 451 (and if you've never read that fantastic piece of literature, you need to stop reading this immediately and go read it, NOW) . The premise is of a future dystopian civilization in which citizens no longer have any free will or creativity. "The Society" has carefully selected 100 songs, 100 poems, 100 paintings, etc. that its citizens may still enjoy; each are mild and should not inspire or incite any kind of free thinking. Meals are selected for you to best meat your nutritional needs, mates are chosen for you based on who will have the best genetically optimal offspring, and, of course, who is the most likely to be compatible so that you actually want to reproduce. But one of the most important parts of the plot is that everything - everything- is now done on screens. Paper is used only to receive information from The Society. No one knows how to write anymore. And because no one knows how to write, there is no un-monitored communication.
I know it may seem like a rather large mental jump to go from not teaching cursive to the downfall of civilization, but I don't think it's that far a stretch. I think if the Powers That Be can decide that cursive is no longer necessary it cannot be too long before they determine that printing isn't no longer needed as well. You can decide for yourselves whether or not that's a problem.
While this may be true, it truly frightens me. I feel like this is just a small step away from deciding not to teach children to write at all.
About a year ago I read the Matched series by Ally Condie. It is a very fun, three-part, young adult fictional series that reminded me quite a bit of Farenheit 451 (and if you've never read that fantastic piece of literature, you need to stop reading this immediately and go read it, NOW) . The premise is of a future dystopian civilization in which citizens no longer have any free will or creativity. "The Society" has carefully selected 100 songs, 100 poems, 100 paintings, etc. that its citizens may still enjoy; each are mild and should not inspire or incite any kind of free thinking. Meals are selected for you to best meat your nutritional needs, mates are chosen for you based on who will have the best genetically optimal offspring, and, of course, who is the most likely to be compatible so that you actually want to reproduce. But one of the most important parts of the plot is that everything - everything- is now done on screens. Paper is used only to receive information from The Society. No one knows how to write anymore. And because no one knows how to write, there is no un-monitored communication.
I know it may seem like a rather large mental jump to go from not teaching cursive to the downfall of civilization, but I don't think it's that far a stretch. I think if the Powers That Be can decide that cursive is no longer necessary it cannot be too long before they determine that printing isn't no longer needed as well. You can decide for yourselves whether or not that's a problem.
I thought the exact same thing when I saw that some public schools weren't going to be teaching cursive anymore! And such a good series too! =)
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