Comments on: Stop Teaching Handwriting

By: tonka

tonka — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:35:37 +0000

I come from a big family; and am 2nd in line. My next younger brother, Michael, was left handed. His first grade teacher had a problem with this, she would not accept ANY home work done with his left hand. She said it was “the devils writing.” My Mom fought her for half a year and finaly managed to get him transfered out of her class. It took him a long time to recover from this. To fail him solely on this issue is horribly wrong…………..as is your decission to “throw out handwriting” equaly absurd. Trust me, where would he be then? Not every one knows sign language. He would waste a lot of time waiting for whomever to show up to sign to them, (given they know sign) when, easily, he could just as well left a note.(which, theoreticaly speaking, he’d then have to know how to write) Myself, I seldom write ANYTHING in solid cursive. Mostly, I print, 2-3 letters in any one word may be joined, but its been a long time that I’ve completed a word in solid cursive. No one would be able to read it. As a matter of fact, when I think about it, I mix printing, cursive, AND (God forbid…..don’t let that teacher see THIS) upper & lower case!!!!!!!

By: Yasmin

Yasmin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:51:01 +0000

The other thing I wanted to add (and obviously half a year has passed since this article has been published), is that there are many ways to make learning penmanship into a fun exercise. There is no need for it to be fraught with frustration. So, if the author is still working with her son, I have a couple of suggestions: 1. Make it fun. Find some ways to incorporate games and rewards into this learning process. 2. Turn it into an art project. Buy some canvas and paints and just start painting, before you start just have one objective in mind; to try and turn writing into a good experience for your child. 3. I can’t stress encouragement and rewards enough. If your son makes some wide sweeping arcs that somewhat resemble even something remotely akin to a letter in the alphabet: Praise him! – - – If he smiles and looks like he is enjoying making the letters: Praise him! – - – You get the jist. 4. Concentrate on the image and not the detail. For young people its so hard to get that letter just exactly right. And I think its wrong to punish someone for not getting each letter and word to look picture perfect. 5. You never know ~ By incorporating a sense of fun into learning how to write, your son may find out that he has an eye for creating beautiful flowing characters. He may see things differently than just a set of rigid letters. The writing exercises could be a really fun way to spend time with your son and reconnect. Best of luck to you. And I wanted to also say that to write this article, really does take courage. It isn’t easy to go out on a limb and say, “My son is having trouble with . . . ” Hardly anyone admits to anyone having trouble with anything anymore, so I do applaud you for that. I suspect that the instructor involved either didn’t have a lot of patience, or was trying to push your son to do something he wasn’t ready or able to accomplish; a big no-no when you want someone to enjoy learning. I truly hope that some of this helps ~

By: Yasmin

Yasmin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:26:22 +0000

I wholly applaud what Parkerjvp just said regarding the encouragement of inner city schools to pick up the pen, rather than put it down. Ms. Trubek’s article seems to be one written entirely out of frustration, and with no real merit or thought to the great disservice she is actually doing to her son. I can appreciate her frustration; however, handwriting is not just something fun, or trivial, nor is it a romantic pursuit of the past. We are hindering our children by not teaching them handwriting. The article suggests more of a problem with the educator, and I would recommend that Ms. Trubek seek out a far different teacher who will be sympathetic and compassionate, someone who will take the time to help her son master this priceless skill. Maybe Ms. Trubek could sit down with her son every other evening after dinner and help him to work on his handwriting. I think the real back pedalling is by negating the importance of handwriting. I cherish this skill, and it saddens me when I come upon someone who doesn’t know how to handwrite a simple letter. Please, Ms. Trubek, sit down and read the article you just wrote, and take a second look. Do it for the sake of your son, and his future.

By: Bevin55

Bevin55 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:59:28 +0000

I’m a first-grade teacher, and even though I’m a “handwriting-challenged” person myself, I very deliberately studied manuscript so that I would set a good example for my students. Unless your son has been taught by a series of tyrants, which I doubt, neither his soul, nor the souls of other youngsters has been harmed by having to practice to reach some approximation of a print ideal. A blank surface and some instrument that makes a mark or an impression are still the most available and appropriate technology. Students are thrilled when they are first able to write their own message. They are less thrilled when they discover that other people will find it easier to understand if it’s written neatly, but generally their desire to be understood makes them want to improve their writing. The way a six-year-old makes lines, curves, and squiggles tells me a lot about the way their particular brain works. I use this info when I’m teaching them other skills. Generally, I don’t desire stylized handwriting–they do, because they’ve seen it in other places and think that they’re being “artistic.” They rebel when they’re told they can’t do it “their way.” Do it my way first, i.e., your genuine attempt at legibility, then do it your way to your heart’s content.

By: rachelb

rachelb — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:42:14 +0000

Many children struggle with subjects in school. Let’s not discard learning to write simply because you’re tired of dealing with your son’s difficulties. Honestly, you don’t want children to learn how to hand write letters? Are you serious? Has your computer sucked out your soul as well as your intellect?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:42:22 +0000

i learned typing early because my teachers refused my essays and other schoolwork submitted in my atrocious handwriting. i honestly wish my parents and teachers had put more emphasis on learning how to handwrite. however the methods of teaching handwriting need to be re-evaluated. as a child, i was told i held my pen incorrectly. it hurt to hold it the way i was instructed. currently i am re-teaching myself to handwrite. i have a proper pen and i have children’s workbooks and every few days i sit down and practice my letters. i agree that handwriting should not be graded, but it should be taught. a pencil is indeed a powerful tool and to disregard it is ridiculous.

By: lukehabb

lukehabb — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:14:26 +0000

If your description is accurate, your son’s teacher is ineffective and has contributed to, if not largely created, his insecurities about handwriting. Just because poor instruction has ruined handwriting for your son does not mean that we should get rid of it altogether. Think of all the practical, job-related actions that require handwriting: writing prescriptions, correcting papers (sometimes you only have a hard copy of an essay), writing down directions to a friend or stranger, etc. Are we really fully prepared for the ramifications of a nation that can’t put a pen to paper, or if you must, finger to motion sensor pad?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:28:39 +0000

Agreed, handwriting or cursive is basically pointless in most situations. I now write with somewhat of a combination of print and cursive but i do not beleive children should be punished for writing a letter wrong, unless if yes they write something backwords because well we want them to be able to write it right. but other than that i beleive that teachers and the schooling system should allow younger students to write how they wish and adapt to reading it that way as teachers do most of the time to many students penmenship when you get to higher education. its your way of writing, each person has a reason and why should a teacher try to form the way you express yourself. they dont tell us what we want to do when we get older or how we should spend our free time so why should they try to control jsut another thing in our childrens lives.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:45:53 +0000

Penmanship is not everything. Writing is good. “Hand”writing — or cursive is not so great. I never ever write in cursive. Teach printing and typing.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:28:48 +0000

I’m sorry, but when I see messy handwritting it tells me something about the person; maybe carelessness? impatience? and I’m sorry, but if your son spent less time playing video games, maybe he would have time to practice. Penmenship is everything. Tecnology does not erase our need for artistic expression and formality. No matter the historical significance, good penmenship shows the world we are civilized.