A recent study from the University of Stavanger has found that around 40 percent of Gen Zers are losing their grip on handwritten communication, a skill that’s been key to human interaction for about 5500 years. Dependence on digitial media is the leading cause for the deterioration and over the years, with no patience for cursive writing and with ball pens coming in the art of handwriting is being lost. While the teachers always looks forward to good handwriting, more recently, the focus is on legible handwriting at least for the exams.
The advantage of cursive handwriting
Zeeba Tiegel has been teaching English and Social Studies at Little Flower of Jesus High School, Calangute for ten years now. Through her experience, she says, “Their handwriting is dilapidating and is getting worse by the year. Every batch comes with like a more complex problem, in terms of their writing. Earlier, we would have like at least a majority that would write averagely well and it would be legible. Now, it is the opposite. I can count the number of students whose books I take and I would be able to understand on the go.”
Speaking about the advantage of cursive writing, she says, “The most important advantage of cursive writing is children save on time because they don't make as many stops in the words and don't break the rhythm of writing.
They are saving those millisecond, when calculated across three hours of examination. I just returned from board
paper correction and with the bad handwriting, now a child can actually stand a chance to lose a couple of marks. The answers could read incorrectly because of the handwriting. I don't think all of us are cut out to have very pretty handwritings, but being legible is one thing, that all of us could aim for.”
A role model in writing
Anora Fernandes won the first place at a national level Handwriting Competition organised by Wiz Writing Wizard Olympiad. A student of Class 6 at Presentation Convent, Margao, Anora was among students across India from 21 states who participated in the competition. Her mother, Nisha informs, “Anora began writing in cursive handwriting in school and then we used to correct her and keep persuading for neat handwriting. Later, in higher classes, she was inspired by her teacher’s handwriting. Earlier, she had cursive handwriting book but now also, she just keeps writing to practise.”
Teachers can be an inspiration
A former student of St Francis Xavier's High School, Siolim and now a teacher for 37 years in the same school, Lilia Dhargalkar is a senior English and History teacher. She was inspired by her teacher to write beautifully, a practise she has followed and made sure the students learn too.
“As an English teacher, I have really worked hard for the students. Even in Covid times, when I saw that a child's handwriting was not legible at all, I would call him with his mother to school for practise. When teachers write on the board, students see and if the teacher has good handwriting, they copy the teacher's handwriting. That becomes an inspiration for them. Learning handwriting is a must and I ask the students to bring a double line handwriting book to practise running handwriting,” she informs.
When a child's writing is good and legible, the teacher should appreciate it too. “Parents and teachers should motivate students to write well and if they show it to the other students, maybe they will also copy or try to get their handwriting as good as that one as well,” adds Lilia.
Practising for handwriting competitions
Annabelle D'Souza specialized in Mathematics, but teaches Maths and English at English teacher at Holy Cross High School, Siolim. She along with Sr Julie Rodrigues, headmistress and Sr Dolly Fernandes was instrumental in introducing the Handwriting Competition organised by Wiz Writing Wizard Olympiad for the students in the school.
“Since Covid-19 lockdown, I have seen the writing speed of the students has gone slow and the writing style also has changed. This year, we got this opportunity of Wiz Writing Wizard Olympiad which had spelling bee and handwriting, both in it. When our students registered, they gave us books and students could practice it before actually having the test. Three of our students have qualified for national level for spelling bee and handwriting competition. The primary classes under Sr Dolly has already adopted it. For high school till Class 9, we are going to do it from June. The students will get access to the books and they will be automatically registered for the competition as well,” says Annabelle. She writes in cursive writing and encourages her students also to write in cursive.
Making cursive compulsory
Teaching English for classes 5 to 10 for seven years at Holy Cross High School, Bastora, Christa Cardozo can decode the handwriting of her students. “Students handwriting has deteriorated because they are not practicing their writing skills as they are mostly with mobile phones, they are not writing beyond school. Those who are going to explore creative fields, like art and crafts, they pay attention to their handwriting, because they are into writing well and designing and illustrating their book,” says Christa.
The students in the school are all encouraged to write in cursive handwriting and the Class 10 students especially focus on their handwriting. “We just have about three or four students who write in print. The Class 10 students write well when it is important. If they know it's for something worthwhile, then they will write well. If they are getting marks, if it's result-oriented, then they put that much effort to write well,” explains Christa.