The Death of Penmanship

Sad news, rather glibly reported on, that "what used to be called 'penmanship' is being shunted aside at schools across the country in favor of 21st century skills" — Cursive writing may be fading skill, but so what?

So what? Two years ago, I quoted educator Linda Schrock Taylor Preserving Cursive:

Insist that children learn, then keep using, accurate, neat, and very legible cursive handwriting. Think about it. When we speak, the sounds of a word flow, from one phoneme to the next, with smoothness, grace, and connections! Sounds flow together to make words; words flow together to make sentences; sentences to make paragraphs. Words flow together to create thoughts and ideas. Help children become aware of, and mimic, the flow of speech and language; make sure that children use that flow in their handwriting, thereby setting the stage for smooth scrolling of the mind when they read, spell, write, Think. We do not speak in Print! S-T-AR-T; S-T-O-P; S-T-AR-T; S-T-O-P! We speak in cursive!!!