With technology all around us, is handwriting so out of date? We know how to form letters, but do we really need to do it now that we can type just about everything? Will it be a problem later in the lives of my children (who aren't small anymore) to let them type everything?
"I'm more likely to write the words if I can type them" "I don't like to write them out, it makes my hand hurt" "It just takes too much time to write out, I type faster"
These are the arguments I hear when I assign 'written' work. Copywork is done still, everyday. It has been dwindled down to their Bible verses and not the lengthy work I had assigned early on. Regardless of what type of written work is assigned or expected, it either does not get done, is sloppy or I hear the arguments mentioned above before, during and after the assigned work is completed.
So my question is whether it truly matters any longer to have them write their work as opposed to typing it. I would like to see the nice handwriting that they have used before with their work. But is the aesthetic quality the only reason to still expect handwritten work? Typing can be nice and 'prettily' done but requires much less effort.
I personally do not write much more. I fill out forms at the doctors office occasionally, or perhaps I write a note to a friend sometimes. But more often than not, I use the computer to 'write'. Argh, these are just my thoughts on this all. I am convinced that it is more a lack of character building (stick-to-it-iveness) that I have failed to foster in not only my children, but myself as well. I just wonder if this 'battle' of writing versus typing is one that needs to be fought or resigned as not that important. Pick your battles, eh?
Our handwriting standard has always been legible, not beautiful. To that end we do not allow a child to type stories until about age 8, and the first draft for any paper must still be done by hand no matter your age. Yes, I'm a mean mom. It's my job. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think too (continuing Tristan's thought), that learning proper handwriting is much like any other subject. Think about it. Remember I can't even memorize basic math simply because I don't need to use it on a daily basis - I have a calculator. What happens when a person doesn't have the keyboard to use? Perhaps the handwriting doesn't have to be perfect, but it needs to be legible. I used to have beautiful handwriting, but because I now type everything, sometimes I can't even read my own writing! Of course, I am getting older, but still.
ReplyDeleteAs I type this, I am trying to think of a real reason to continue to have them write. When I was in school and first learning to write cursive (although it wasn't called that at the time!), I had to make circles. These circles were supposed to overlap each other and be very precise and even. Cursive is expressive and a form of art... I think anyways. I am sure the kids do great in the hand writing department, but if they are allowed to not write anymore, just type, what do you think would happen? Perhaps it would be like playing... only a game boy or the computer is fun anymore. What happened to imagination without technology?
I miss writing - well only marginally. I think it is something that I should have continued myself. I've been practicing (and can't read) taking notes at church meetings... but like I said, I have to decipher what I wrote and what it was suppose to mean. LOL
I'll let them type and just stick to a few very well written sentences. As you mention, Bible verses, a poem, an inspiring paragraph, in other words, short things. Quality to me is more important than quantity. If they can do it they will when they have to.
ReplyDeleteNow when I write posts, I use the PREVIEW feature a lot, and maybe when they write a story is good to have a handwritten draft, though, I do that too. I think as you get older writing by hand becomes less something to dread when you are motivated to write.
At church I also take notes frequently, that's a good time to practice handwriting that doesn't have to be neat, but it's a very good mental and fine motor exercise, apart from being a good way to retain more of the lesson.
I still write, but not as much as before internet and the blogs...
Writing is a bit like miniature painting and therefore joyful. I buy different colors of ink for my daughter and insist on readable letters and numbers. Because we write less, we can focus more on the joy of writing (I hope).
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