Dec 30 2008
Keeping the Basics In Schools, Writing in Cursive
With technology the driving force of our future and the No Child Left Behind Act, it is just a matter of time that doing things the old fashion way - with a pencil, will disappear. One of the basics I am referring to includes cursive: writing words in curvy, flowing, letters that are joined together. It may also be referred to as handwriting or penmanship.
Many students do not even know how to read cursive because they do not use it outside of classroom drills. At home, they type away on a computer and let spell check correct all the errors. If the future removes cursive from the teaching curriculum, children may never learn or practice handwriting skills. These skills not only teach writing, but grammar and neatness. With e-mail and texting, a handwritten letter is practically obsolete.
It has not been removed in most schools (yet), but it may just be a matter of time. Even though Colorado does, some states do not even test writing on the standardized state testing each year. How will this effect future instruction? Since the No Child Left Behind Act, school districts are focused on getting scores up which leads to “teaching the test”. It is bad enough social science and history are not tested in many states and falls to the wayside.
Will the standardized testing contribute to classrooms neglecting important fundamentals like writing and history? Some say these subjects are not that important considering how the United States is lagging some countries in math and science. There is a valid argument that teaching cursive should be obsolete with computers so readily available.
There is importance in keeping these subjects in the class though. Part of our history includes important documents that define our country and it’s laws. Cursive is how the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written and signed. I wonder if students will be able to even sign their name to a document if cursive is removed from the classroom.
Keeping basics in the classroom may be a challenge, but as teachers, it is a challenge we will soon have to face.
As a computer science professional–that is, one with a B.S. in computer science who makes his living programming–I have to say: I love you.
OK that’s an exaggeration, but I do agree with you. What you’re really talking about is decision making, a person’s ability to make good decisions. In order to make good decisions you have to understand the full context. That means a good grasp of cause and effect. Unless you understand the WHOLE context, the history (has someone made this decision before? How did it turn out?), the culture (How are other people going to respond to my decisions? What if I’m in another country? What if they’re from another country?), and the current atmosphere (What is new and unlike it has ever been? How will this effect the outcome?), you will be unable to make good decisions.
It’s easy to see this on a macro level, look at the last eight years. Ignoring history led to making mistakes which had been made before; it also led to ignoring solutions to problems that were already known. Not understanding culture led to international outrage that was predictable, and predicted. And failure to understand the current differences has lead to a considerable loss of personal freedom due to people failing to understand technology and security, without any gains.
It’s much harder to see this on a personal level, but it’s all there. Like a person without children not wanting their tax dollars to go toward education. They think this will make them happier. It wouldn’t. Tax dollars for education distribute your cost of education over your life time. If we understand culture we know this by looking abroad at countries where taxes do not pay for education, such as Japan. Education costs are exorbitant there, and would be here, if we followed their model:
-Kindergarten (3 years - public): 7,943 USD
-Kindergarten (3 years - private): 17,536 USD
-Elementary (6 years - public): 21,798 USD
-Elementary (6 years - private): 89,675 USD
-Junior High (3 years - public): 15,392 USD
-Junior High (3 years - private): 41,360 USD
-High School (3 years - public): 16, 995 USD
-High school (3 years - private): 34,078 USD
-Total for all public (15 years): 62,130 USD
-Total for all private (15 years): 182,651 USD
University is not compulsory but for those wishing to go would spend an average of 54,412 USD for the 4 years.
(source: http://www.dannychoo.com/adp/eng/1656/Randoseru.html)
So that’s how bad decision making could affect one on a very personal level. Not to mention that, as a society, WE WANT TO PAY for the education of those who can’t pay for themselves. It’s historically proven that if we don’t we will have less tax revenue–lower incomes–and we will have higher costs–prisons.
All of this is directly related to the content of your article. In order to produce good decision makers we need a well rounded education:
Math, Science, Computers absolutely.
But never underestimate the value of
History, English, Social Science, Music, Art, Sports (yes sports), and Penmanship. That last one is actually very very important.
And for the record, I’m a working Joe, mid-thirties, with out children. It is unlikely I will ever have children. Guess what? I still want to pay for your kid’s education. It’s the right choice.
This is a great and thoughtful response. Yes, we always need to be thinking big picture. Education is the CORE and you make a good point when you mention how in the long run lack of education can lead to a social demise which can ultimately lead to higher costs. I agree - sports are important as well as the other subjects mentioned.
P.S. I don’t have kids either.