Sample research paper on should teachers still teach penmanship and cursive

Introduction

There is a continuous debate on the position of cursive handwriting in the modern schools. A few countries are expressing a desire to hold on to the cursive writing style which they think is central in the childhood curriculum. The developers of cursive handwriting say that the writing style is gradually becoming obsolete in this modern computer era (Cleveland 22). Proponents of cursive writing poses serious arguments concerning the role it plays in enhancing the early development of children. According to the developers of cursive writing, it is necessary to be taught in schools because it enhances mental maturity and thinking capacity in learners. On the other hand, the opponents of penmanship and cursive writing devalue the style basing their argument on the future needs of learners (Jedra 68). The opponents express strong dissatisfaction with cursive handwriting because they believe it does not make learners acquire the skills they ought to use in future. Interestingly, teachers have conflicting ideas regarding the continuously debated topic of cursive writing. For the parents, the debate is worrying. Although, the debate is still on, cursive writing and penmanship ought to be taught in schools.

Relevant information

Similarly, cursive requires learners to write towards the right from the left. This is important to allow for the proper joining of letters in the correct sequence. The blending of sound is achievable with the systematic joining of letters in cursive writing (Esham 31). In ball-and-stick, some learners use backward letter writing system that is accompanied with erratic spacing. The poor spacing of letters creates a challenge in identifying the end of one word and the beginning of another. In cursive writing, learners are able to isolate words into readable text. Cursive inculcates spatial discipline in writing.
Cursive writing assists the learners to adopt correct spellings of words. The hands get used to spelling patterns through movements made and are used repeatedly in spelling. This is evident in the case of pianists or typists who learn and get used to writing patterns by continued repetition.
Interestingly, left-handed learners benefit from cursive writing. This is because a child who is left-handed is trained to write from the bottom to the upper end of the page, the way learners using left hands write. Using other forms of writing disadvantages the left-handed children by creating difficulties in writing (Esham 27) . The speed of writing is higher for left-handed children in cursive writing. Left-handers have an advantage to develop a good cursive handwriting because the paper is turned clockwise during writing. Cursive writing is helpful in training the left handed children adopt proper writing styles that improve their handwriting.
The academic self esteem is very important in enhancing the development of a child. There are several ways in which cursive learning aids in creating motivation in children especially during their early childhood. Cursive helps spelling, enhances reading, and because the entire writing process is made accurate, easy and esthetically pleasant, it enhances thinking. The children are motivated when they can spell words, write and read with ease. Cursive writing, therefore, makes learners enjoy schooling rather than staying at home for fear of the education difficulties (Sheffield 13).
Children have different learning abilities. Cursive learning can easily bridge the gap between the intelligent, quick learners and the slow learners. Children with difficulties in writing and reading are advantaged with the use of cursive writing. For example, cursive eliminates the need of picking a pen and the decision on where to replace it when writing letters. Confusion for the writer is avoided because every letter commences on the line in cursive writing. In addition, there are few letters that are reversible in cursive. This eliminates challenges for the learners because they encounter problems with numerous reversible letters. Problems of word-spacing are minimized . In addition, the words flow in a rhythmic manner that facilitates learning (Ben-Pazi 63).
Equally important is the fact that cursive makes children to appreciate how letters are connected to form words. The nervous system incorporates experience in order for this awareness to exist. The practice of cursive writing is essential for children with special needs (Elizabeth 11). For example, it helps children to isolate every word and view them as integral units.
Parents and educators ought to recognize how writing influences the learning abilities of children. Training children on how to utilize the internal control efficiently helps them to employ symbolic language in learning with ease. The quality of the cursive lessons is important for the success of learners in adopting good writing styles. Through coordinated hand movements, the brain builds clear pathways that enhance writing and reading. Cursive enables children to develop motor skills, composition, critical thinking and memory.
It is pertinent to embrace cursive writing and integrate it in the school curriculum. Unlike printed handwriting, cursive is not easy to forge. Forgery of documents increases the children’s risk to future theft of identity. Cursive writing eliminates incidences of children engaging in use of stolen identity when they become adults (Elizabeth 51).
Technological advancement and upcoming innovations are not enough to sideline cursive writing. This is because cursive remains an important back-up skill. While technology threatens to devalue old-school system of handwriting, students will need some form of writing that can also replace technological print (Esham 83). In the modern world, some employees need handwritten applications from interested candidates for various job positions. In addition, students may encounter serious challenges in using documents of the pre-technological times. For example, considerable difficulties may arise for students when referencing ancient documents if they are not exposed to handwriting. Similar problems may occur in situations where students will be required to read handwritten feedback from their teacher.
Illegible or legible handwriting has significant impacts on academic success. Teachers argue that the grading of essays is not based on the handwriting style. Research on this argument has merited on the otherwise. Printed essays receive poor average grades than those written in cursive. The essays written in cursive receive better scores because of the link that exists between hands coordination and the brain via the central nervous system. Undoubtedly, cursive has significant implications for success in academics (Elizabeth 35).
Cursive has an inherent connection with the development of motor skills as well as the proper use o f hand-eye coordination. In addition, the children are prompted to acquire self-discipline that is very necessary and helpful in life.
There are many subjects that require handwriting as a basic tool. This is because it is convenient to take notes, doing classroom work and tests in those subjects. Discouraging students from cursive writing is very detrimental to the development of talents that are required in some subjects such as arts. It is true that certain art styles can be developed computers. However, the development of art styles with computers leads to loss of creativity in students. Students with cursive writing skills have a better chance to advance their art careers compared to students that have embraced modern print. Development of subjects such as arts dates back to the pre-technological period (Esham 5). Thus, challenges will be experienced by students if the will be a need to make reference to older documents . the baseline is that, one cannot read cursive if he cannot write in cursive format. Hence, students need to be taught cursive in order to enhance their creativity and performance in arts.
Moreover, if handwriting is considered cumbersome and time-wasting, motivation in writing is significantly decreased. This may be accompanied with difficulties in writing due to lack of sufficient practice. Motivation is necessary to enable students learn with increased esteem. Cursive writing matches well with the overall goals of individuals, families and governments in education (Cleveland 93).
Those who oppose cursive writing and teaching in schools seem to have lost a very important connection between this form of writing and the origin of humanity. Cursive writing is a unique ingredient of human history. Additionally, it connects learners with the past. Inability of learners to read cursive writings will hinder them from understanding past information. Learning entails integrating experience with the emerging information. Students lacking the ability to read and write cursive will experience problems in understanding the present information without establishing connections with the past. Ironically, technology advancements have a history which is also threatened by the technological innovations, leave alone print writing.
Not only will learners lose out on a significant part of history, they may lose out on reading necessary cards and letters from their ancient parents. For example, the old persons still engage in cursive writing. The children need their parents and guardians to translate information written on the cards because they are not able to interpret cursive writings. Although parents may translate such information for their children, this is worthwhile for the present and may not extend to the future. Education is a progressive process that requires making references to the past (Esham 112). Lack of cursive skills will limit the opportunities for students to make reference to the past and connect it with the present. In circumstances when the older parents will not be present to translate cursive writing, the challenges will be more disastrous.
Nobody can purchase legible penmanship. This is a skill that is learned. Therefore, this is one of the available ways that are used to create equity in the classroom. Learning cursive begins at the same level for all. This maintains motivation among students. Improvement in cursive writing is not related to material well being as may be print technology. Good handwriting evolves through thorough practice and increases self-esteem in learners (Jedra 18).
Cursive writing involves copying notes. Students have the advantage of internalizing information during the process of cursive writing. Moreover, students are often distracted by technology that reduces the time they should spend reading. Hand copying reduces the need for students to spend long hours reading because most of the information is memorized in the process. Subjects like poetry are better understood by first copying them in cursive. In addition, the students who use cursive are always ready to take exams unlike those who need this skill. Partially, creativity and critical thinking associated with this kind of writing have been attributed to this inexplicable knowledge.
The busy school schedules need to accommodate sufficient time for training students in cursive writing. Alarming numbers of students discarded from successful experience of schooling are witnessed in the modern world (Cleveland 22). Introducing children to some form of cursive writing at early ages is helpful to eliminate situations where many students encounter writing difficulties at higher education levels. Innovations are known to be products of creativity. Thus, the advancement in technology through innovations over time should not be used to retard the creativity in learners.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, cursive has many advantages to different groups of learners. It is a misconception to regard cursive writing as obsolete, out-dated and irrelevant. Teachers, parents and governments, must embrace cursive teaching in institutions to promote success in education. Introduction of technology in schools especially the use of computers must be integrated well in order to avoid interference with opportunities to learn cursive.

Works Cited;

Ben-Pazi, Hilla, Sahana Kukke, and Terence D. Sanger. ” Poor Penmanship in Children Correlates With Abnormal Rhythmic Tapping: A Broad Functional Temporal Impairment.” Journal of Child Neurology (2007): n. pag. Print.
Cursive Writing. Cleveland, OH: Learing Horizons, 2002. Web.
The Effects of Manuscript, Cursive or Manuscript/cursive Styles on Writing Development in Grade 2. Language and Literacy, n. d.. Print.
Esham, Barbara, Mike Gordon, and Carl Gordon. Stacey Coolidge’s Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting. Perry Hall, MD: Mainstream Connections, 2008. Print.
Jedra, M., A. E. Ouardighi, M. Limouri, and A. Essaid. ” Neural nets for real time analysis of cursive writing.” Displays (1998): n. pag. Print.
Nelli, Elizabeth. ” Penmanship: Neglected tool in teacher preparation.” The Teacher Educator (1982): n. pag. Print.
Sheffield, Betty. ” Handwriting: A neglected cornerstone of literacy.” Annals of Dyslexia (1996): n. pag. Print.
” Should school kids still learn cursive writing? Question of the week.” LA Daily News: Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment & LA News. N. p., n. d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.