Recent concerns about the value of teaching cursive
handwriting in the classroom are based on the belief that cursive
handwriting or penmanship is an outdated and unnecessary skill in
today’s online world. The discussion of this issue begins with a
description of current initiatives to eliminate handwriting instruction
in schools. This is followed by a brief history of cursive writing
through the ages. Next considered is a description of its benefits as a
preliminary process for younger children as compared with
immediate instruction in keyboarding, particularly in the areas of
vision, cognition, motor skills and automatic fluency. Also
considered, is cursive’s companion, paper itself, and the impact of a
paperless, “screen and keyboard” environment. The discussion
concludes with a consideration of the unique contributions of cursive
and keyboarding as written forms of communication, along with their
respective surfaces, paper and screen. Finally, an assessment of the
practical utility of each skill is followed by an informal assessment of
what is lost and what remains as we move from a predominantly
paper and pen world of handwriting to texting and keyboarding in an
environment of screens.
[1] V. Supon, “Cursive writing: are its last days approaching? Journal of
instructional psychology, 36, 4, pp. 357-361, 2009.
[2] J. Bennett, “The curse of cursive: penmanship, like hieroglyphics and
the IBM Selectric, has lost its purpose. Let’s erase it for good.”
Newsweek, 153, 8, Feb 23, 2009.
[3] D.S. Amos, “Is cursive’s day in the classroom done?” USA Today, Aug
12, 2013.
[4] B. Cross, “Schools saying goodbye to cursive” The Windsor Star, A.5.
13 May 2013.
[5] K5 learning blog, “Why do schools still teach cursive?” Retrieved
August 29, 2014 from: http://www.k5learning.com/blog/why-doschools-
still-teach-cursive-writing n.d.
[6] J.M. Crotty, “Rachel Jeantell, star witness in the Trayvon Martin murder
trial cannot read her own letter: now whose fault is that? Huffington Post
blog, June 28, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2014 from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-marshall-crotty/rachel-jeantelstar-
witne_b_3519231.html
[7] Graduate medical school admission test directions. Retrieved October 6,
2014 from: http://gamsat.acer.edu.au/sit/handwriting-section-II
[8] Graduate medical school admission test directions: Bad handwriting
samples. Retrieved October 6, 2014 from:
http://gamsat.acer.edu.au/files/Bad_handwriting_samples.pdf
[9] K. Johnson. When how it looks matters more than what it says. New
York Times, November 22, 2013, C. 28.
[10] L. Seraphini, Codex Seraphinianus. New York: Rizzoli, 2013.
[11] M. Jacobson, Curator, “The new post-literate: a gallery of asemic
writing.” Retrieved August 18, 2014 from:
http://thenewpostliterate.blogspot.ca
[12] T.Gaze, 100 Scenes. Transgressor Press, 2010.
[13] T. Gaze & M. Jacobson, Eds, An Anthology Of Asemic Handwriting.
Belgium: Uitgeverij, 2013.
[14] E. Owens. Is cursive making a comeback? The Daily Caller, November
4, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014
from:http://dailycaller.com/2014/11/04/is-cursive-really-making-acomeback/
[15] R. Hamburgh. The lost art of handwriting. The Guardian. Aug 21, 2013.
Retrieved November 23, 2014 from:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/aug/21/lost-arthandwriting
[16] P.T. Daniels & W. Bright. Eds. The world’s writing systems. Oxford,
UK: Oxford University Press, 1996.
[17] R.Sassoon.Marion Richardson: her life and contribution to handwriting.
Intellect Ltd., 2011.
[18] Online Etymological Dictionary. “Cursive”, Retrieved November 21,
2014 from: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cursive.
[19] Oxford English Dictionary. “Cursive”, Retrieved April 30, 2014 from:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cursive
[20] M. Bellis, “A brief history of writing instruments”. Retrieved August 15,
2014 from: http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa100197.htm
[21] elementary school journal, 18, 4, 280-286, 1917.
[22] C. Haas, Writing technology: studies on the materiality of literacy.
Mahweh, NJ: L. Erlbaum & Associates, 1996.
[23] M.J. Ford & V. Poe. Microcomputer keyboarding skills: Dvorak vs
qwerty. Journal of computing in childhood education, 3, 1, 73- 96, 1992.
[24] D. Johnson. Librarians for a postliterate society. Multimedia &
internet@schools, 16, 4, 20, July/Aug 2009.
[25] A. Tatnall. & B.Davey. Reflections on the history of computers in
education. IFIF Advances in information and communication
technology, 424. 2014.
[26] A. R. Molnar. Computers in education: a brief history. T.H.E. Journal,
24, 11, 1997. Retrieved November 21, 2014 from:
http://thejournal.com/Articles/1997/06/01/Computers-in-Education-ABrief-
History.aspx?Page=1.
[27] B. Eberdt, J.D. personal conversation, September 6, 2014.
[28] C. Eberdt, M.D. personal conversation, October 7, 2014.
[29] Oxford English Dictionary. Literacy. Retrieved October 12, 2014 from:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/literacy
[30] Random House English Dictionary, Literacy. Rretireved, October 12,
2014 from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/literacy
[31] Merriam-Webster English Dictionary. Literacy. Retrieved October 12,
2014 from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literacy
[32] The Free Dictionary, Literacy. Retrieved October 12, 2014 from:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/literacy
[33] J.B.G. Tilak, Education and its relation to economic growth, poverty and
income distribution: past evidence and further analysis. World Bank
Discussion paper #46, World Bank, Washington, 1989.
[34] K. Hammer. Global rate of adult literacy 84% but 775 million still can’t
read. Globe and Mail, Sept 2, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2014 from:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/global-rate-of-adultliteracy-
84-per-cent-but-775-million-people-still-cantread/
article4528932/
[35] H. Bruce, The dark hole of illiteracy. In More than words can say.
Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
[36] R.D.Altick, The English common reader: a social history of the mass
reading public, 1800-1900. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[37] UNESCO. Discussion Papers. Washington, DC.: The World Bank.
[38] UNESCO. Statistics of educational attainment and illiteracy. Paris:
UNESCO, 1983.
[39] UNESCO, Literacy. Retrieved October 5, 2014 from:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/educationbuildingbloc
ks/literacy.
[40] N. C. Stevenson, C Just. In early education, why teach handwriting
before keyboarding? Early Childhood Education Journal, 42, 49-56,
2014.
[41] V. Connelly, D. Gee, & E. Walsh. A comparison of keyboarded and
handwritten compositions and the relationship with transcription speeds.
British Journal of Educational Psychology, 77, 2007, 479–492.
[42] W. Klemm. What learning cursive does for your brain. In Psychology
today March, 2013, Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/
blog/memory-medic/201303/what-learning-cursive-does-your-brain
[43] Berninger, V. “Evidence-Based, Developmentally Appropriate Writing
Skills K–5: Teaching the Orthographic Loop of Working Memory to
Write Letters So Developing Writers Can Spell Words and Express
Ideas.” Presented at Handwriting in the 21st Century?: An Educational
Summit, Washington, D.C., January 23, 2012.
[44] M. Longcamp, M. Zerbato-Poudou, & J. Velay. The influence of writing
practice on letter recognition in preschool children: A comparison
between handwriting and typing, Acta Psychologica, 119, 2005, 67–79.
[45] Rogers, J., & Case-Smith, J. (2002). Relationships between handwriting
and keyboarding performance of the sixth-grade students. The American
Journal of Occupational therapy, 73, 34-39.
[1] V. Supon, “Cursive writing: are its last days approaching? Journal of
instructional psychology, 36, 4, pp. 357-361, 2009.
[2] J. Bennett, “The curse of cursive: penmanship, like hieroglyphics and
the IBM Selectric, has lost its purpose. Let’s erase it for good.”
Newsweek, 153, 8, Feb 23, 2009.
[3] D.S. Amos, “Is cursive’s day in the classroom done?” USA Today, Aug
12, 2013.
[4] B. Cross, “Schools saying goodbye to cursive” The Windsor Star, A.5.
13 May 2013.
[5] K5 learning blog, “Why do schools still teach cursive?” Retrieved
August 29, 2014 from: http://www.k5learning.com/blog/why-doschools-
still-teach-cursive-writing n.d.
[6] J.M. Crotty, “Rachel Jeantell, star witness in the Trayvon Martin murder
trial cannot read her own letter: now whose fault is that? Huffington Post
blog, June 28, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2014 from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-marshall-crotty/rachel-jeantelstar-
witne_b_3519231.html
[7] Graduate medical school admission test directions. Retrieved October 6,
2014 from: http://gamsat.acer.edu.au/sit/handwriting-section-II
[8] Graduate medical school admission test directions: Bad handwriting
samples. Retrieved October 6, 2014 from:
http://gamsat.acer.edu.au/files/Bad_handwriting_samples.pdf
[9] K. Johnson. When how it looks matters more than what it says. New
York Times, November 22, 2013, C. 28.
[10] L. Seraphini, Codex Seraphinianus. New York: Rizzoli, 2013.
[11] M. Jacobson, Curator, “The new post-literate: a gallery of asemic
writing.” Retrieved August 18, 2014 from:
http://thenewpostliterate.blogspot.ca
[12] T.Gaze, 100 Scenes. Transgressor Press, 2010.
[13] T. Gaze & M. Jacobson, Eds, An Anthology Of Asemic Handwriting.
Belgium: Uitgeverij, 2013.
[14] E. Owens. Is cursive making a comeback? The Daily Caller, November
4, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014
from:http://dailycaller.com/2014/11/04/is-cursive-really-making-acomeback/
[15] R. Hamburgh. The lost art of handwriting. The Guardian. Aug 21, 2013.
Retrieved November 23, 2014 from:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/aug/21/lost-arthandwriting
[16] P.T. Daniels & W. Bright. Eds. The world’s writing systems. Oxford,
UK: Oxford University Press, 1996.
[17] R.Sassoon.Marion Richardson: her life and contribution to handwriting.
Intellect Ltd., 2011.
[18] Online Etymological Dictionary. “Cursive”, Retrieved November 21,
2014 from: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cursive.
[19] Oxford English Dictionary. “Cursive”, Retrieved April 30, 2014 from:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cursive
[20] M. Bellis, “A brief history of writing instruments”. Retrieved August 15,
2014 from: http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa100197.htm
[21] elementary school journal, 18, 4, 280-286, 1917.
[22] C. Haas, Writing technology: studies on the materiality of literacy.
Mahweh, NJ: L. Erlbaum & Associates, 1996.
[23] M.J. Ford & V. Poe. Microcomputer keyboarding skills: Dvorak vs
qwerty. Journal of computing in childhood education, 3, 1, 73- 96, 1992.
[24] D. Johnson. Librarians for a postliterate society. Multimedia &
internet@schools, 16, 4, 20, July/Aug 2009.
[25] A. Tatnall. & B.Davey. Reflections on the history of computers in
education. IFIF Advances in information and communication
technology, 424. 2014.
[26] A. R. Molnar. Computers in education: a brief history. T.H.E. Journal,
24, 11, 1997. Retrieved November 21, 2014 from:
http://thejournal.com/Articles/1997/06/01/Computers-in-Education-ABrief-
History.aspx?Page=1.
[27] B. Eberdt, J.D. personal conversation, September 6, 2014.
[28] C. Eberdt, M.D. personal conversation, October 7, 2014.
[29] Oxford English Dictionary. Literacy. Retrieved October 12, 2014 from:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/literacy
[30] Random House English Dictionary, Literacy. Rretireved, October 12,
2014 from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/literacy
[31] Merriam-Webster English Dictionary. Literacy. Retrieved October 12,
2014 from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literacy
[32] The Free Dictionary, Literacy. Retrieved October 12, 2014 from:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/literacy
[33] J.B.G. Tilak, Education and its relation to economic growth, poverty and
income distribution: past evidence and further analysis. World Bank
Discussion paper #46, World Bank, Washington, 1989.
[34] K. Hammer. Global rate of adult literacy 84% but 775 million still can’t
read. Globe and Mail, Sept 2, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2014 from:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/global-rate-of-adultliteracy-
84-per-cent-but-775-million-people-still-cantread/
article4528932/
[35] H. Bruce, The dark hole of illiteracy. In More than words can say.
Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
[36] R.D.Altick, The English common reader: a social history of the mass
reading public, 1800-1900. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[37] UNESCO. Discussion Papers. Washington, DC.: The World Bank.
[38] UNESCO. Statistics of educational attainment and illiteracy. Paris:
UNESCO, 1983.
[39] UNESCO, Literacy. Retrieved October 5, 2014 from:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/educationbuildingbloc
ks/literacy.
[40] N. C. Stevenson, C Just. In early education, why teach handwriting
before keyboarding? Early Childhood Education Journal, 42, 49-56,
2014.
[41] V. Connelly, D. Gee, & E. Walsh. A comparison of keyboarded and
handwritten compositions and the relationship with transcription speeds.
British Journal of Educational Psychology, 77, 2007, 479–492.
[42] W. Klemm. What learning cursive does for your brain. In Psychology
today March, 2013, Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/
blog/memory-medic/201303/what-learning-cursive-does-your-brain
[43] Berninger, V. “Evidence-Based, Developmentally Appropriate Writing
Skills K–5: Teaching the Orthographic Loop of Working Memory to
Write Letters So Developing Writers Can Spell Words and Express
Ideas.” Presented at Handwriting in the 21st Century?: An Educational
Summit, Washington, D.C., January 23, 2012.
[44] M. Longcamp, M. Zerbato-Poudou, & J. Velay. The influence of writing
practice on letter recognition in preschool children: A comparison
between handwriting and typing, Acta Psychologica, 119, 2005, 67–79.
[45] Rogers, J., & Case-Smith, J. (2002). Relationships between handwriting
and keyboarding performance of the sixth-grade students. The American
Journal of Occupational therapy, 73, 34-39.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:68326", author = "Karen Armstrong", title = "Cursive Handwriting in an Internet Age", abstract = "Recent concerns about the value of teaching cursive
handwriting in the classroom are based on the belief that cursive
handwriting or penmanship is an outdated and unnecessary skill in
today’s online world. The discussion of this issue begins with a
description of current initiatives to eliminate handwriting instruction
in schools. This is followed by a brief history of cursive writing
through the ages. Next considered is a description of its benefits as a
preliminary process for younger children as compared with
immediate instruction in keyboarding, particularly in the areas of
vision, cognition, motor skills and automatic fluency. Also
considered, is cursive’s companion, paper itself, and the impact of a
paperless, “screen and keyboard” environment. The discussion
concludes with a consideration of the unique contributions of cursive
and keyboarding as written forms of communication, along with their
respective surfaces, paper and screen. Finally, an assessment of the
practical utility of each skill is followed by an informal assessment of
what is lost and what remains as we move from a predominantly
paper and pen world of handwriting to texting and keyboarding in an
environment of screens.
", keywords = "Asemic writing, cursive, handwriting, keyboarding,
paper.", volume = "8", number = "11", pages = "3609-7", }
