A couple
nights ago my wife and I attended the Wednesday night Bible study at our local
church. And prior to the service I asked a college-aged man if he had ever
learned to write in cursive. To which he responded that he hadn’t.
Back in the ‘50’s (as
in the 20th century,) when I was in elementary school, cursive
writing was taught. As early as the 80’s, it was being phased out in favor of
the printed word.
The flowing script
of The Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution would,
from henceforth, (and apparently forevermore) be relegated to the yellowing parchments
of the past.
Of course,
in the age of typewriters, and subsequently, keyboards, the use of printed
characters is in vogue; (with the exception of Lucida handwriting, one of many
styles available on computers).
Interestingly
enough, as a counselor I taught myself to write with my non-dominant hand. Thus,
I can write in cursive with both my left and right hands. Oddly enough, between
the two hands, the appearance of the writing is altogether different. The
results I leave behind with my right hand, (though it is my dominant one) are
scratchy and difficult to read. What I create with my left hand, though somewhat
slower, is exceptionally legible, but rather feminine in appearance.
I, for one,
mourn the cessation of handwriting. It will, no doubt, pass away
… along with
those who have been taught to use it.
By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 9
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