Handwriting is irrelevant

"They couldn't remember how to write the letter "I."

Is it one loop or two? Does the pen start at the top of the squiggle or the bottom? "I forgot how to handwrite," says 18-year-old Kris Tofer Baker, as he mulls over the execution of a "w."

Don't misunderstand. Baker is an intelligent young man. He just hasn't needed to use cursive script since Grade 4.

"I print out or type the majority of my school work."

He's not alone. On the Ryerson and University of Toronto campuses, few students were able to handwrite naturally, when handed a black felt-tipped pen. After some moments of meditation, most remembered, sort of, how to script — although they couldn't remember the last time they needed to..."

Jen Gerson
The Toronto Star

LINK

[via Chris M]

Comments

[Ruricolist]

It has been suggested that the illuminated book achieved its apogee only when printing had made it obsolete and it was freed to develop as an art form. Of course, Western handwriting has its art variants, calligraphy in Gothic and Italic, and the pointed pen yielding Copperplate and Spencerian; but perhaps once handwriting has become an esoteric art, the business of masters--slackjawed audiences that have never picked up a pen wondering how anyone could form a letter the same way twice--it will leave the copybooks behind and sprawl over the walls, Arabic-fashion.

There has to be some silver lining.

[Thomasina]

>

I'm hardly surprised. Felt-tipped pens might be great for drawing or for making posters, but I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to write a 'natural' cursive, or any other script, using one.

I'm always saddened by how few people realise the difference made by using a good writing tool.