Should we be teaching children to write?

Even though we do not write much nowadays, I think it is a basic skill we should all have,.
We all had art lessons at school, but most of us have never drawn or painted since. We also had music lessons, and played the recorder. Only those interested in these subjects continued with them. In the computer age, handwriting may be classed similarly but it is still a skill useful for most people.

Definitely I believe in fine penmanship and not just computer keyboards.

I’m trying to picture a world that doesn’t require handwriting that wouldn’t impact on the poorest families.
All children to be taught to write using a device with a keypad?
During Covid it soon became obvious who had problems with online work because they couldn’t afford the equipment.
Whole chunks of school budgets would be needed to enable all writing to take place on a device.
Signing things? I signed on an iPad to acknowledge the gas service visit. Who knows who might have access to that signature?
Messages on birthday cards? -Type the message onto a sticky label then log in to your printer and print it off. (If you have a printer and can afford the ink.)

I think it’s important to maintain handwriting.
I love getting anything that’s handwritten.
My DBs handwriting was appalling, he taught himself Calligraphy.
Now his cards are beautifully written.
In fact he wrote out my friend’s wedding invitations, after being let down by someone who was charging a hefty price.

I do find that writing things down if I'm organising something complicated really helps me to concentrate and make connections. Typing doesn't have the same effect. I've heard other people say this too, so I'm not the only one.
Also writing things down can calm anxiety, this may also be the case if you type it out in Word or Notes, but the tangibility of the pen and paper seems to help.

Already, many people can't do cursive "joined-up" writing, only printing, which takes longer to do because it is one letter at a time, all stops and starts. Many can't read cursive writing either.
I guess it’s a use it or lose it situation. Cursive has been taught from Key stage 1 onwards for ages.

If we don't teach our children how to write with their hands (that is not the same as teaching particular styles of artistic handwriting as an art form) then if we ever go over entirely to typing everything onto screens we would be completely vulnerable if some unforeseeable catastophe were to wipe out all electronic technology. Since almost all information and records is now in digital form, that would leave us in a state similar to illiterate peasants, with no internet, TV, radio, or even newspapers.

We would all have to learn very fast how to communicate with one another at a distance by scribbling a note, putting it in a cover, adding the name and address of the person we would like to receive it, and how the courier will be able to find that town, that street, that house and that person - and we would have to hope that they are able to read the rough scratches of the name and address so that it gets where it is meant to go, and that the recipient also can decipher what we meant to tell them.

Already, many people can't do cursive "joined-up" writing, only printing, which takes longer to do because it is one letter at a time, all stops and starts. Many can't read cursive writing either.

Handwriting can be difficult for children with a range of special needs including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD.
Word processing and voice input can liberate children with physical disabilities and allow them to work alongside their peers.
If the teaching of handwriting styles takes time away from the teaching of writing, it is lost time.

Our 5 year old grandson loves writing 🤷‍♀️

Cossy

My take on this is that handwriting helps to develop fine motor skills and concentration, it also helps children learn their letters and numbers.

It can be awful for left handed children though and those with learning difficulties, but they have to overcome other difficulties so why not writing!

I agree with the points in your first paragraph.
Being left handed and/or having a learning difficulty often means writing is more difficult.
It’s still worth teaching though. In the 1980s, I taught Cerys, who was left handed and dyslexic before that was commonly recognised. She had incredibly neat handwriting even in Y2.

Handwriting is not a waste of time. What a stupid thing to say.

Thanks for the info Daddima!

I wouldn't say that learning handwriting is a waste of time either. There are many occasions when a handwritten note is essential.

handwriting is mostly a waste of time and discriminates against children with a range of learning difficulties.

The vast majority of children do not have learning difficulties. Why should the lack of handwriting, and other subjects, be for the benefit of the few instead of the majority?

As others have said, children with learning difficulties have other problems to overcome, but that doesn't mean that what works for them should be applicable to all other children.

handwriting is mostly a waste of time and discriminates against children with a range of learning difficulties.

Handwriting needs to be legible, at all times.
If children were taught the correct pencil grip in Reception they would find the mastery of handwriting far easier.
Writing reinforces reading, and is important in teaching spelling, but that of course is also increasingly regarded as irrelevant, by those who can't be bothered to learn.

seasider

I have always thought my handwriting is pretty bad . I had friends who could write beautifully at school. I was so surprised and pleased when someone at work complimented me on my lovely handwriting. My first thought was standards must have dropped. My son ,who has ADHD, should have been a doctor as his writing is atrocious. Before he was diagnosed the school and ourselves spent hours trying to teach him to write neatly . If only we had known it was a symptom of ADHD.

Funny you should say that.... Both I and DS have atrocious writing and the same remark used to be made about us, but DS and I both have dyspraxia as well as ADHD.

DGS, who has ADHD, but not dyspraxia, has uite good writing.

seasider

I have always thought my handwriting is pretty bad . I had friends who could write beautifully at school. I was so surprised and pleased when someone at work complimented me on my lovely handwriting. My first thought was standards must have dropped. My son ,who has ADHD, should have been a doctor as his writing is atrocious. Before he was diagnosed the school and ourselves spent hours trying to teach him to write neatly . If only we had known it was a symptom of ADHD.

Strangely enough, my old GP had beautiful handwriting!

I have always thought my handwriting is pretty bad . I had friends who could write beautifully at school. I was so surprised and pleased when someone at work complimented me on my lovely handwriting. My first thought was standards must have dropped. My son ,who has ADHD, should have been a doctor as his writing is atrocious. Before he was diagnosed the school and ourselves spent hours trying to teach him to write neatly . If only we had known it was a symptom of ADHD.

SueDonim

I’m trying to think of the advantages of not being able to write. 🤔

We might say the same of art. There are plenty of art paint computer programmes nowadays, why would anyone bother with messing about with a pencil, or acrylics or oils? Or sculpture. Just write a programme and produce objects on a 3D printer instead.

If you are writing for a purpose, you need the ability to reflect and edit.
If you just want to make pretty marks on a piece of paper then handwriting is fine.
Would you honestly make as many drafts of a complex report by hand?

A handwritten note is really appreciated but rarely received these days. What about Pitmans shorthand? Are we planning to lose it.

I’m trying to think of the advantages of not being able to write. 🤔

We might say the same of art. There are plenty of art paint computer programmes nowadays, why would anyone bother with messing about with a pencil, or acrylics or oils? Or sculpture. Just write a programme and produce objects on a 3D printer instead.

My eldest grandson is autistic and his writing was pretty bad, We were worried when the school started to teach them cursive but it turned out that he could produce the most beautiful writing. I doubt if he bothers much now he's 19, everything is on his computer, but hopefully it's lurking in his brain somewhere.

Hand writing is essential and IMO should still be taught in school.

I have just received my Mother's ( Gran's ) Day card from the Wee Boy, DGS2 aged 6.
His neatly handwritten message to me means more than all the expensive gifts.

My take on this is that handwriting helps to develop fine motor skills and concentration, it also helps children learn their letters and numbers.

It can be awful for left handed children though and those with learning difficulties, but they have to overcome other difficulties so why not writing!