Synthesis: Handwriting In Schools

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Kyle Hoang AP Lang Ms. Brown April 9, 2024 Handwriting Synthesis Handwriting has stood as a universal and timeless skill that remains upheld and timeless throughout history. Undoubtedly, handwriting instruction holds inherent significance throughout life, granting a skill individuals can utilize in daily life. Yet, as education evolves, questions emerge concerning whether valuable educational time should be reserved for practicing handwriting in schools. Although this skill holds value in the grand scheme, the handwriting instruction curriculum should not be enforced in schools because the curriculum in which penmanship is taught is outdated, valuable time during school can be allocated to other important skills, and the curriculum fails to …show more content…

These standpoints highlight the dissonance between traditional handwriting instruction and current educational skills needed in the 21st century. For example, amidst a rapidly digitizing society, students should instead be prepared for “contemporary communication... [and] the move outside our schools... is toward technology” (Source A). In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement, the change in educational demands demonstrates the evolution of skills needed, and enforcing students to cultivate an outdated skill through countless hours of practice in handwriting will not facilitate future success. Instead, educational focus should pivot toward enhancing digital literacy and preparing students to thrive in a technology-driven society. Moreover, requiring the teaching of handwriting is not only unnecessary but also counterproductive, as handwriting bears time from other essential skills taught in school. Considering a standard day of school averages eight hours, dedicating portions of this time to penmanship can be consuming and wasteful to …show more content…

For instance, teachers who instruct handwriting education, such as Deb Fitzgerald, have voiced their opinions about handwriting instruction in schools. Fitzgerald expressed a strong preference to “move on” and concentrate the little time they have in class on other subjects (Source A). Many educators share a similar feat, recognizing the importance of focusing on skills that correspond more closely with the demands of today's world and ensuring students are equipped with the skills necessary for success. Allocating time solely to focus on improving penmanship diverts precious resources and attention from students, slowing the development of other critical skills that are paramount for the future. In contrast, some advocate the development benefits of handwriting instruction in schools and emphasize the importance of building a foundational practice that improves reading, writing, and language use. To specify, supporters contend that teaching penmanship in school “activates the regions of the brain associated with thinking, short-term memory, and language” (Source

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