For at least the past seven years, research has shown that learning cursive writing has a positive effect on brain development, helps to ease difficulties associated with dyslexia.

Yet, keyboarding is taught while writing is dropped.  The U.S. Postal Service recommends addressing cards in block letters to facilitate delivery (i.e., so it can be read by machines).  And, what’s worse, it’s considered “monotonous” by educational experts, probably because it’s difficult to read and/or grade a paper that’s written in cursive as opposed to one that’s printed from a computer.

The neural pathways that are created by forming letters on paper with a pen or pencil just aren’t formed when notes are input into a computer program by using a keyboard.

So how are today’s students supposed to learn how to sign a greeting card (oh, we just use electronic greeting cards), sign a check (oh, we just use our debit card) or sign for a car or mortgage (oh, can’t we use electronic signatures for that?)?

Sure – all of that is possible today with technology.  But the artistic and creative centers of the brain are engaged when cursive is used rather than when the logical centers are engaged by typing on a keyboard.

Public schools in general have long-complained about the negative comparisons made in relation to private schools.  Smaller class sizes resulting in better focus and less discipline problems.  Perhaps it’s because private schools in general put more of an emphasis on handwriting in the early grades.

Educators are always reminded throughout their studies, “What does the research say?”  Here’s what it says: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/case-handwriting/