Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
It should come as no surprise that I, a writer, love writing. Handwriting, though, has been a passion of mine since I first learned cursive growing up. I was so excited to learn to write like my mother and grandmother, who both do so in beautifully flowing and looping scripts. The loops did not come to me so easily! I distinctly remember struggling to perfect capital ‘S’s and ‘Q’s as a youngster in elementary school. I would practice my letters for hours at a time on lined writing paper, agonizing over each loop and tail. This became a bit of a habit for me throughout my school years, and I still sneak in some letters practice when I can, or sometimes practice my signature here and there! These days, my favorite way to practice my penmanship is journaling each day.
Today, on National Handwriting Day, we are looking at some pivotal moments in handwriting.
Magna Carta
The document from which our Constitution takes much influence, this document is significant for recognizing the rights of all individuals in England during the 13th century and applying the law to everyone. Written in Latin, it is also an amazing piece of artistry in penmanship.
Declaration of Independence
The document from which the term “John Hancock” was coined, the signers produced quite an array of signatures. Of course, none rival the extravagant Mr. Hancock! National Handwriting Day was established in 1977, and chosen, fittingly, because it was John Hancock’s birthday.
Penmanship Removed from American Public School Curriculum
With the rise of screens and computers largely taking the place of paper, some argue that handwriting is no longer a vital skill. I, however, disagree because handwriting engages your mind in ways typing simply does not and cannot. Further, while teaching penmanship in every grade would be an unwise use of resources, I do think teaching it in the younger grades, second and third grades for example, should be a priority. After they know the basics, the students can choose to pursue it more or not.
Handwriting coming back into schools in some states
It seems the research into penmanship and its relationship to memory has sparked a movement, modest at the moment, towards requiring handwriting in schools once again. Maybe, hopefully, we can ensure handwriting remains a valued art form for generations to come, and reap the benefits of a more literate society!
What do you think about handwriting being taught in public schools? Do you practice your penmanship?
