The Slow Death of Cursive Writing

Sad news! One unexpected off-shoot of the internet revolution has been the slow death of cursive writing. And one unanticipated consequence, according to The New York Times, is that the non-cursive generations coming after us old-timers will be unable to read important historical documents … including, for example, the Declaration of Independence!

In the article, a third grade teacher is reported saying: "The majority of students cannot write in cursive, nor can they read it. At the same time, their printing skills are awful. Not only is it difficult for me to read, they themselves often cannot read back their own notes." The article also reports that teachers are spending less time teaching cursive writing.

For the record, others disagree, including Jen Doll at the Village Voice, who asserts that “cursive sucks! And, in our modern day keyboard- and smartphone-focused lifestyles, we simply don't need it."