The Decline of Classic Standards for the Advancement of Modern Technology

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For the past few years, many educators around the United States have debated the decision of whether or not it is necessary to continue teaching cursive handwriting in elementary schools seeing as most classes are now being taught with computers. The decision left independently to each school, one may worry about the education of future generations and what effects may take place if classic standards are removed from the school system, replaced with a modern and technological way of teaching. Many parents have brought forth their own thoughts of concern by blogging online, speaking to educators and even protesting in order to preserve the traditional guidelines for the English language.

Until the 1920’s, cursive was the standard style of writing in America’s educational system. It was then that what is now known as print handwriting was first taught in schools, educators theorizing that children learn to read by looking at manuscript in printed books. By World War II, both forms of cursive and print handwriting were required in all American schools. Until recently, children usually learned print in kindergarten and cursive by the second or third-grade. From this time and into high school, students continually received what were once regarded as necessary skills for their future lives. There were also once stricter standards for legible handwriting skills, which is not the case any longer (Time.com, 2009).

Dodson 2

Illegible handwriting, once harshly discredited by teachers, enabling students to improve their skills is no longer a necessary teaching requirement. Many educators fear that the decline of handwriting has been caused by standardized testing brought forth since the No Child Left Behind Act started in 2002. Linda Garc...

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... children, instilling the necessary skills to be effective and fully productive in their adult lives. Unfortunately, it may be that only time will tell.

Works Cited

"Schools Debate Cursive Handwriting Instruction Nationwide." The Huffington Post. 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2011. .

Suddath, Claire. "Mourning the Death of Handwriting - TIME." TIME. 3 Aug. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

Common Core State Standards Initiative | Home. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

"School Preserves Cursive Writing-WYFF Greenville." Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina News, Weather and Sports - WYFF Greenville's Channel 4. 4 Mar. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

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