Alert! The National Archives is seeking volunteer “Citizen Archivists” to transcribe and classify millions of handwritten cursive documents from the Revolutionary War era and beyond. Who knew we have a “superpower” skill crucial for chronicling historical records? Put that on the list of things AI can’t do!
We all learned to loop our letters into graceful, flowing words. Yet, for much of the last two decades, cursive seemed destined to fade into history. Many schools dropped cursive instruction altogether after 2010 when cursive was omitted from the Common Core education standards.
Typing skills were the priority. Hey, kids don’t need cursive for their phones and computers. Their communication is dominated by keyboards and touchscreens. Who cares if they can’t read grandmom’s note on their birthday card.
Interestingly, cursive is making a comeback. Last year, 25 states began requiring some form of cursive instruction. Supporters argue that research demonstrates that writing cursive is essential in developing fine motor coordination, which is crucial for overall brain development. It reportedly improves memory retention. That’s a big one for us! Students will still learn to type. We learned on manual typewriters. We couldn’t be hacked!
Gen Zs have the least proficiency in cursive writing. Approximately 40% struggle with or are unable to read and write in script. They are being blamed for slowing down political election counts. That’s because they don’t have a consistent way of signing their names.
More than 13,000 mail-in ballots in the last presidential election were rejected in Nevada because signatures on ballots did not match those recorded when new voters registered. Could also cause some problems with check writing. Gen Zs rely on digital payment apps and debit cards.
We giggled when thinking…what will happen to handwriting analysis that indicates personality traits, emotions, and character based on the slant, size, pressure, and letter connections of cursive writing?
You remember. Rightward slants indicate emotional, people-oriented, and open individuals. Leftward slants suggest reserved, introspective, or cautious personalities. No slant implies a practical, logical, and emotionally controlled person. Missing loops in letters like “y” or “g” can indicate a fear of intimacy or lack of trust.
Whew! Then we learned there is printing-only handwriting analysis. For example, using all-capital letters can suggest a rebellious or defiant personality. Duh!
Didn’t know there is a band called Cursive. It’s an American indie rock band from Omaha. The frontman chose the name after reading a book by V.S. Naipaul, which describes how British colonizers forced Indian students to learn cursive. He likens the “tedious process of mastering cursive handwriting to the intense, serious discipline” the band applies to its music.
Tedious or not, remember that some brand names of interest to kids are written in cursive letters. Think Coca-Cola, Kleenex, Kellog’s, Wendy’s, Disney, and even Barbie. Guess if they want a hamburger and a coke they’ll figure it out.
We found some funny cursive sayings. Example: I’m writing in cursive so my grandkids can’t read this. And, you may not be able to read a doctor’s handwriting and prescription, but you’ll notice his bills are neatly typewritten.
So, our Wrinkled Wisdom for today? Print your comments in the kids’ birthday cards. Type up all the family’s favorite recipes; don’t leave them handwritten. Don’t give away your fountain pen yet! Be smug that learning cursive when we were young will help us remember stuff in our old age. Fingers crossed!
Wrinkled Wisdom 