“Why Don’t We Write in Cursive Anymore?” By Bess Lovejoy, May 20, 2026
‘Why We Don’t Write Cursive Anymore’
“Gen Z Never Learned to Read Cursive; How will they interpret the past?” By Drew Gilpin Faust. The Atlantic, September 16, 2022
‘Gen Z Never Learned to Read Cursive’ – The Atlantic 9-16-2022\
“Don’t Write Off Cursive; Teaching kids how to write in script is no longer a priority in American schools, but it should be.” By Bobby George, June George, and Quartz. The Atlantic, October 1, 2013
‘Don’t Write Off Cursive’ – The Atlantic 10-1-2013
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This is a disgrace.
I remember — and so does my wife — the Palmer Method of penmanship as it was applied, mostly, if I recall correctly, in the second and third grades. The letters hanging on the wall, circling the classroom, each like a sign.
The letter I proudly wrote to my third grade teacher upon her retirement in 1954.
And the following, for example:
A letter from my Cape Cod ancestor, Capt. Benjamin P. Howes, to his niece, written at sea in the mid-1800s.
A letter from my father to my mother written early during their courtship. A bold, clear hand. Like my wife’s.
A composition written by my son Henry in fourth grade.
Henry’s letter, written in French at age 12, to his French pen pal Nathalie.
Henry’s letter to Nathalie (in French) 2-271-1997
A letter I wrote, in French to Mme. Petillot, my friend’s mother, who lived in Paris, and whom I had visited here.
An essay I wrote for a Russian class. An instance of my learning script in another language. Russians have told me it is clear and readable.
Roger W. Smith, biographical sketch of Tolstoy
The articles posted here say it better than I could.
— posted by Roger W. Smith
October 19, 2026