Should schools write off penmanship classes?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 05:47:19 -0400

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Not too often, I am guessing. Is it time for schools to do away with handwriting classes and penmanship classes? Or should we keep them in case we need to communicate in a hard copy format when we have no access to electronics? What are your thoughts? Also, see survey...

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 2 at 2015 5:52 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 05:52:54 -0400

On the contrary, pepople still need to have good handwriting skills. We cannot rely soley on computers. And of course others need to be able to read what you have written.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 5:57 AM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 05:57:33 -0400

It saddens me when I see things like this in the news and media. We are losing the basic education; math, penmanship, grammar, vocabulary, etc. I see things like, "but we have all that information on our mini-computer in our smartphones". Yes, but what about our super-computer?? The brain?

I don't want to start a tangent topic but when I see official emails that contain "gonna" and "wanna" from senior members, I *want to* weep a little.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 5:58 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 05:58:54 -0400

Penmanship classes (or something accomplishing the same/similar task) absolutely still need to exist...for the same reason kids still need to learn multiplication tables before they meet the calculator and the same reason Privates and Lieutenants need to learn to read a map before you hand them a GPS. What if the computer crashes...or the zombies come....or they're REALLY in love.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Jul 2 at 2015 6:58 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 06:58:55 -0400

I have to admit I was shocked and amazed to find out schools dont teach a kid how to write in cursive any more.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 8:41 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 08:41:46 -0400

No, no, no. You may not write letters anymore but you still need to know how to write. You need to at least know how to write your signature in cursive/script, too. I'm a teacher on the civilian side and all students grades 8-12 in my district are given a tablet. It's great that we're embracing technology and making some things easier, but some things in the real world are still done "old school" and those kids need to be ready. My brother just graduated from high school and I had to teach him how to write and sign a check, then how to address the envelope to mail it. I was amazed that he didn't know such basic things.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 2 at 2015 8:53 AM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 08:53:29 -0400

Schools need penmanship! This is when you learn it and nothing is more impressive to me than a thoughtful, hand written note. This shows someone who cares.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 9:11 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:11:17 -0400

As a parent and military leader, I prefer my kids and Soldiers focus their time on keyboarding or typing instead of cursive writing (which I haven't needed in years)...I am an advocate for education, and have a liberal-arts degree, but I am also 100% fine with printing in manuscript and being able to type quickly vice having beautiful, flowing penmanship.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jul 9 at 2015 1:11 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 13:11:03 -0400

No, we need it, we very much still read it, my wife is teaching my older son penmanship because his school doesnt teach it and he can barely read it... this is a sad thing, older docs are in cursive, we sign our name that way also.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 27 at 2019 1:34 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 01:34:38 -0500

Absolutely not...he elimination of cursive script writing is most definitely an educational step backward, I still do write a good deal, in script, not letters necessarily, often just notes, however, it's a classical aspect of human education dating back centuries, not to be eliminated lightly, in terms of the overall societal detriment ignorance of being able to write in that fashion to my mind clearly helps foster, at least in my view....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 27 at 2019 1:35 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 01:35:00 -0500

Sorry for the typos, clumsy tablet keyboard....