Qwerty me

Recently in Indiana the school district in Indianapolis has begun considering a measure to stop the teaching of cursive writing. (For all you who are half asleep now, that is script). And they aren't the only ones out there. Most believe the future is learning keyboard skills and that cursive will have no place in the future. I compare that to a story on CBS Sunday Morning about a collector of fountain pens who has spent over one million dollars on his collection. I think those are laughingly at opposite ends of the spectrum.

I think what these districts fail to take into consideration is the amount of communication that takes place that has nothing to do with a keyboard. If I have to leave notes for my staff or managers I don't always have ready access to an electronic device. How then will they effectively communicate? There are many financial transactions in the real world that require you to write your name. A signature is cursive. I know, have someone sign your name for you and get a stamp made. That way if you are required to sign your name you can just whip out a stamp and...presto!

I think this practice is very short-sighted by any school district considering such a measure. Just because there is more use of keyboard in the real world doesn't mean there is no place in the culture for script. If Spanish were to be considered the second most prevalent language in the US does that mean we should abandon teaching English? Besides, have you ever actually tried to read what is typed out over a keyboard these days? The line between texting and tweeting and writing properly is so blurred that what I read from others is almost a hybrid language.

Besides, who would use all those expensive fountain pens?