Community Chat

[Venezia]

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@MaggieMack wrote:

I think it has always been legally permissible to sign your name with an "X" if you were illiterate and had witnesses. Even printing has individually distinguishable artifacts. That said, I am in favor of keeping cursive alive.

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Many years ago, when I first returned to the U.S. from England, I was shopping with my credit card.  When I signed for the purchase the senior (in age) cashier said loudly "What is that !?" pointing to my signature.

I was annoyed by her attitude and replied "That is my signature."  She huffed and said "I can't read it!"  I pointed out to her that a signature is not meant to be printed; nor should it be easy for anyone else to duplicate (i.e. forge).

I told her I had adequate identification, should she have a problem, but that my signature matched the signature on my card.  Also, that I was not printing my "signature" just so she could read it!

I can't tell you how many times my DH and I ran into that same issue, when we were first here.  Thankfully, it has stopped.

Discontinuing cursive writing in schools is just another example of the dumbing down of America.  JMHO.

[Puppy Lips]

I have a high school senior and he sometimes has a hard time reading cursive!

[ROMARY]

'X' marks the spot!  (I prefer cursive because it sometimes reflects the personality.  If not, at least it's slightly similar to a finger-print.  Very individual, sometimes creative, flamboyant.)   I love receiving notes, cards, letters from people who write cursive.  Very 'artistic', individual, IMO

[Suzeecat]

I do remember spending many, many long hours (parochial education, i.e. nuns) practising my cursive handwriting.  Although I am sad to see it tossed to the wayside, I guess I can understand the logic that study time can be more productive learning FACTS.  I'm sure there have been countless debates among those making curriculum decisions.

My mother (would be in her 80s now) learned Latin in school and demonstrated to me how she could figure out what English words meant by breaking the prefixes and suffixes down into Latin terms.  I was so impressed that I couldn't wait to get to high school to learn Latin.  Alas, it was no longer offered by the time I got there. 

My sons, now 23 and 25 learned cursive but eventually it was dropped and sadly they now print everything.  I laughed when they found my old Bell Telephone Princess phone with the rotary dial and asked how it worked! 

Regarding signatures, every time I have to sign one of those screens at the checkout I think it looks like a drunk person - nothing like my "real" signature!

[ROMARY]

Dare I say that it might be more important for girls to learn cursive. Maybe as an art form/class, because cursive can be very artistic, similar to caligraphy.   (Many boys usually block print, anyway, when they are older.)  Although it's much faster to write cursive (quick notes, rough drafts, etc).  Just think of how many times we have to lift our pens from the paper in order to block print vrs. smooth-flowing cursive.   Edited: to say/mean that (some) boys might not be interested in learning cursive.......I really don't know; haven't asked any lately. 

[bri20]

Boys shouldn't learn cursive???

[Noel7]

How old was the young woman?

It drives me crazy that schools have dropped so much, including the arts, much of history, and now cursive?

If I was her mother, I'd have taught her myself.  I taught my own a lot, including how to read.

What the heck is wrong with her parents or whoever raised her?

[Noel7]

FYI:

If your child or grandchild is not being taught something you know is important, look for a teachers resource store near you.  Or one online, I would hope there is one online...

I used to go to one often when DD was little, all the way through junior high.  They have the best resources, text books, work books and stickers.  They sell to everyone, you don't need to show credentials.

If your school isn't covering something you think is important, you can do it yourself.

[Noel7]

AMAZON

[aggravated]

We sent granddaughter a gift for her high school graduation.  She sent a thank you note, that part wonderful.  It was in block lettering with many, many cross outs, the printing sloped down one side of the page.  Truly, the crossouts and boxed out words!  I was flabergasted.  A high school graduate?  I was totally taken aback and, in addition, surprised her mother (my daughter) let her send such a note to us.  Times have obviously changed - and not in a good way.