I teach in an elementary school and I see no signs that paper is becoming obsolete - even though there is extensive typing instruction. Also, multisensory teaching methods, used for reading instruction, often involve the physical act of writing, whether it be skywriting, tracing on a dry erase board, or doing “dictation” with pencil and paper. Striking a single key on a keyboard does not help to cement the form of a letter or its sound in memory. All keys on most keyboards feel interchangeable. Therefore, for the beginning reader, physically writing out the letters does have a measureable benefit (assuming letters are practiced correctly - writing a “d” backwards while saying the “b” sound only cements confusion).

On the other hand, when attempting to spell accurately, fluent typing is highly advantageous. Children who struggle with motor memory do not produce handwritten letters automatically. This causes them to have to focus attention and working memory space to letter formation, decreasing the amount of attention, working memory, and energy available for word retrieval, syntax, idea formation, and organization. Often legibility suffers too, unless the child is solely copying and not producing the language simultaneously. At that point, fluent typing is a huge time saver, since it takes one precise keystroke to produce a letter. Some typists can do that with two or three fingers (I know kids who can hunt and peck better than many adult folks can type). The key word is, again, fluent. Dysfluent typing takes away attention and working memory from language production - though often takes away less than dysfluent handwriting does.

So based on all of this, I would suggest that students practice handwriting during reading class as they are learning sounds, syllables, spelling rules and so on. They should also be playing with learn-to-type programs on the computer - there are many designed for children, some of which even review beginning reading skills. When they have to write, they should use whatever method facilitates better production. And they should only be graded on the neatness of polished, finished products.

Try setting up and solving an interesting integral in a limited space on a test or on the tools available on the vast majority of computers, then get back to me about how useless legible handwriting is.

FWIW, I use computers almost exclusively for extended writing. For note-taking, outlining, math, brainstorming — anything other than formal prose, really — I find writing by hand to be indispensable.

Cal: “Yes, handwriting is important, but schools are covering it adequately. The only real problem are kids with dysgraphia, an often undiagnosed learning disability that produces precisely the problems mentioned.”

While I can’t speak to “schools”, I can say that the schools I’ve seen locally do a terrible job of teaching writing. And it is, I think, precisely the attitude reflected in “Bell Work Online Staff”’s comment that leads teachers to be unwilling to spend the necessary time on the subject.

In particular, my experience is that boys have a much bigger problem with legibility and speed than do girls. (I think my experience is also the conventional wisdom, though I’d be happy to see any evidence either way.) When added to an increasing emphasis on writing over math, this can result in severely disparate impact on the education of young boys.

When parents in the movie got a letter (via the US Mail) from their college student son, we both remarked how odd that seems today. I’ll bet 99% of college student - parent exchanges were emails or text messages this year. Who would want to wait three days for their message to get through? And PAY for postage?

We laughed again when someone pulled out a clunky old SLR film camera to take a snapshot. Then a character pulled out a big, bulky cell phone and we REALLY cracked up.

I know you’re proud of your penmanship, but it’s a lost cause. Printing is fine for all daily use and I don’t think it will be long before longhand will be illegible to the younger generation.

Umm, quite often, in learning history, you need to take notes. Fast but readable handwriting is useful for that. In my history classes I would write all the time.

Handwriting may not be a help in mopping a floor. But in a job that involves any writing, it’s a useful skill to have. I’ve used handwriting when working as a checkout operator and as a nurse’s aide

There are core skills such as maths and reading and writing that are used in a wide variety of different areas of life.

The supply room for the floor contains stacks of sticky notes, notebooks, and ink pens, all of which have to be replaced regularly.

There is no substitute for paper, and as such, no substitute for knowing how to write on paper.