Learning to read and write cursive is important.

I honestly don't see what the problem is. I see your point, but how many people actually read the original documents on a regular basis? Those documents have already been re-written (officially or inofficially) into block print so that won't be a problem for the future generation. I'm not saying cursive is useless. It's always nice to know more. I just wouldn't say it's "important" when no one uses it. Even if we taught it to the kids in school, they'll eventually forget it because cursive isn't being used.

I think that it's important to have a readable, yet distinctive handwriting which one can write fairly quickly. I'm not a big fan of cursive as it was taught in the United States. I would favour the style which is sometimes called Italic Handwriting or Chancery Cursive because, taught properly, it is as quick to write as American Cursive and, since it closely resembles printed text (except for 'a' and 'g'), is easier for others to read. The ligatures ('joins') are also fewer in number and more logical. I don't agree with your argument that teaching cursive will protect legal or historical documents or make them more accessible in any way. Those who need to read the originals will quickly learn to read the particular handwriting they use (which may not be 'cursive' as it is taught today) and, in any case, most important documents will have already been transcribed. What I do believe strongly is that developing a personal handwriting style is very important for hand-eye coordination and being able to take readable notes by hand (in lectures, for example) improves one's retention of information - even if one does not read the notes afterwards - by a surprising amount (I think that it is something like 40%).

hahah..we wrote similar discussions..I too feel this is horrible to take cursive away....

Yes I believe it is too. It is so traditional to me I cannot bear the thought of it going into the black hole.

Here in New Zealand cursive writing is still taught, though slightly adapted from when I went to school.

In India also cursive is still taught

You are not the first person that has stated this, but fortunately I have not encountered it yet. Around here, students are still learning cursive as I believe that they should be. I realize that more and more things are becoming electronic, but I do not think that makes cursive writing obsolete and not worth teaching or learning.

I can write faster with cursive but reading a cursive handwriting always slows me down.

I regret for my mistake of never actually working on my handwriting. That is why today I have an ugly scrawl for a handwriting today that resembles more like a trampled upon centipede. But still your point about historic documents is a bit improbable. Its almost like blaming people like me for destroying Historical documents, and it makes me sad. Just kidding!!

I'm totally against the schools not teaching it. I think my son and maybe one other student, are the only ones who can read and write cursive.

When I heard they quit teaching cursive I thought that was the dumb thing I ever heard.

i honestly just dont understand how someone wouldnt be able to read cursive , even if they cant write it. i mean,to me it doesnt LOOK that different (except for really old-timey documents like you said lol) it seems learning to write in it is more difficult than reading it. thats my take anyway.

I have always abhorred cursive. Everyone's cursive handwriting is different and 90% of it is impossible to read. When I am writing with a pen I never use cursive. I always print so that whoever reads it can actually read it. Any old historic document that was written in cursive is now available to read in print so I'm not sure what the problem is. I think there is more danger of historic documents being misread when they are in cursive since cursive is so darn hard to decipher and read. I'm in favor of doing away with cursive.I don't see the point of it. The point of writing something is for it to be read. Printing accomplishes this while cursive makes it almost impossible. On one job I had years ago employees had to leave handwritten notes for other employees who came in after them. Some of them wrote in cursive & their notes could usually not be read so employees had to call up the other employees to find out what they were trying to say in their notes. I finally forbid anyone from writing their notes in cursive, insisting that everyone print their notes. What was once a daily problem immediately went away. The problem is that everyone writes cursive in their own way and it is almost always sloppy and unreadable. I'm in favor of doing away with it.

very true, I agree with you. Children should be teach how to write in cursive. A lot of children nowadays do not know how to write in cursive due to the high technologies that is introduced today.

@savak,I deliberately try to read cursive writing.My experience is,it becomes easy with practice.Have you ever tried to read and clearly understand a doctor's prescription?I have,but failed.

Cursive is an important part of the human legacy, so it should never be stopped teaching. Children should be encouraged to write in cursive. However, whatever we read online or in books, it has got to leave an impact so cursive may become uncommon. But I don't believe it will die out. There are still plenty of people out there who writes in cursive and there will be plenty still in the future. A way of writing cannot be changed that easily.