'Henry Louis Gehrig' Autograph

[CW]

And why exactly are kids no longer taught handwriting skills?

Because they can do all their "writing" on a computer and keyboard.

To say, "It has nothing to do with shorthand and computers," is simply false.

Your son's iPad did not erode a skill he never had, it eroded the need for teachers to teach handwriting skills.

[David Atkatz]

Fair enough.

[packs]

Cursive still has its magical powers. A document is not official for some unknown reason unless your letters are squiggly and connected. Print just will not do.

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by packs

Cursive still has its magical powers. A document is not official for some unknown reason unless your letters are squiggly and connected. Print just will not do.

Reminds me of when I was signing mortgage papers for my home which required me to sign my full name, which I don't believe I had done since about the third grade. In looking at my signatures, the lack of practice since was evident in that it did appear that a third-grader had scrawled my first name next to my usual signature.

In the same vein though, I have a very neat block lettering style to my usual handwriting that I owe largely to my freshman Drafting class that I took while studying engineering. Something about having to "draw" letters really stuck with me, and has served me well in the years since. At the time, I was frustrated that the class didn't involve more CAD work, but I think the lettering practice has served me far better in the years since.