In today's edition of our local paper, the syndicated advice column of "Annie" (he writers are long time editors of the Ann Landers advice column), had a letter from a school nurse.
The last letter in the column addresses a concern raised (correctly IMHO) by a school nurse who feels that more skills should be taught at home. Their response was "You want the kids to learn cursive or to make correct change? Here is your opportunity to teach them".
The "you" in this quote is to the PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, not to the writer of the letter in particular or school nurses in general.
If parents/grandparents want things taught (like cursive) that are no longer in the curriculum, then the parents/grandparents can teach them at home.
That is also how I interpreted the response, but I can see how it may be interpreted otherwise. You have to agree that it does not make any sense that Annie would expect school nurses to teach cursive, and, according to Judge Judy, "If it doesn't make sense it's not true!"
IMHO Cursive should not be taken out of school curriculum. I write cursive much quicker than I print! My daughter goes to private school and I just emailed her teacher to see if it is taught at her school. If it is not, I am certainly going to teach her myself!
My daughter goes to private school and I just emailed her teacher to see if it is taught at her school. If it is not, I am certainly going to teach her myself!
The beauty of private is they are not held to standardized tests and therefore do maintain the "old" standards. Those helpless teachers for public schools have their hands tied.
I can only write my name in cursive. I learned cursive in school, but I never used it. I type everything now, and barely write anything out. My previous job was paper charting, and all my co-workers wrote in cursive, and I wrote print. It was absolutely a generational thing as they were all my mother's age or older.
I don't particularly feel as though I am missing out.
Also, I think Annie's responses was ambiguous and poorly edited. Which led to confusion as to who she was "talking to."
Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.
I hate to see cursive writing be phased out. I imagine the next generations not being able to decipher important family documents, letters, etc because they are in cursive. How sad.
I hate to see cursive writing be phased out. I imagine the next generations not being able to decipher important family documents, letters, etc because they are in cursive. How sad.
I had the chance recently to see some examples of the most beautiful handwritten documents from over 200 years ago. Imagine not being able to read those...makes me sad that some will not be able to read their own family history.
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
I wish I could relearn and perfect the Palmer method! My friend is a teacher and she has THE most beautiful handwriting!
Yet another reason why I could NEVER be a teacher (there are about a gazillion of 'em!). Every teacher I've known has had great handwriting -- especially printing that was *perfect* in every way. My handwriting (cursive or print) looks like a couple of badgers got in a fight.
I learned cursive in school, but I never used it. I type everything now, and barely write anything out. My previous job was paper charting, and all my co-workers wrote in cursive, and I wrote print. It was absolutely a generational thing as they were all my mother's age or older. 
It is such a bastion of modern literature.
SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN
170 Posts
That is also how I interpreted the response, but I can see how it may be interpreted otherwise. You have to agree that it does not make any sense that Annie would expect school nurses to teach cursive, and, according to Judge Judy, "If it doesn't make sense it's not true!"
IMHO Cursive should not be taken out of school curriculum. I write cursive much quicker than I print! My daughter goes to private school and I just emailed her teacher to see if it is taught at her school. If it is not, I am certainly going to teach her myself!