Computers instead of pens: American students don’t study handwriting anymore

The ability to write is one of the basic elements of human life. However, there is a risk for future generations as they can completely forget how to use pens and pencils. According to regulations in the USA, calligraphy lessons are only given in kindergarten and in the first grade. The majority of high schools in the USA do not teach children handwriting; the alphabet is taught using keyboards. Some American teachers point out that because of that, students are showing less creativity and ingenuity.

The history of the United States Declaration of Independence, as well as the decisions of the executive authority, is hand written by statesmen. But all of this can soon stay forever in the past. As it turned out, nowadays the art of smooth and graceful handwriting has almost disappeared as a discipline.

The US federal educational standards published in 2010, are calling to teach children legible writing only in kindergarten and in first grade at school.

As a result, the majority of secondary schools in the United States no longer teach children calligraphy, paying more attention to technology. Some classes stopped using pencils at all. The alphabet is taught using keyboards. Calligraphy teacher Laurie Spiegel calls it a mistake that has harmful consequences.

«People are showing less creativity, and the process of writing will cause them more frustration because they do not write by hand but type on the keyboard. If you limit writing with a keyboard, it will affect the brain’s work», she said.

According to research, when children first get used to writing by hand, they learn to read faster, generate ideas and memorize information easier too. In other words, it is equally important what we write and how we do it.

Scientists also determined that writing letters develops motor skills and facilitates the treatment of dyslexia.

A handwritten signature was once seen as a reflection of personality and character. A handwritten text will become a foreign language for future generations. Technology eliminates calligraphy from the life of adults too. A new application can write notes «by hand» for those who are not up to it. A robot by Bond can produce any type of handwriting or develop a new one for you.

«Just type the text of a note and the address and we do the rest» he says.

If the keyboard wins over the pen and pencil in the United States, future generations will write less. So the signature of the Honourable John Hancock under the US Declaration of Independence might become a scratch under the text that most students will not be even able to read.

Computers instead of pens: American students don’t study handwriting anymore

Source: russian.rt.com