A March 1593 letter from England’s Queen Elizabeth I to King James VI of Scotland, where she acknowledges his “cumber [i.e., trouble] to read such scribbed lines.”
(Folger Shakespeare Library)
While the rise of smartphones and typing impacts handwriting, bad penmanship is far from a new phenomenon. People have struggled to read each other’s handwriting for centuries.
Canadian baseball player Joey Votto is trying to extend his career by playing with the Toronto Blue Jays this year. He issued a handwritten apology for earlier remarks he made about Canadian baseball.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Nesius
The power of a handwritten letter became clear when baseball player Joey Votto penned an apology to Canadian fans. Votto also reopened the debate about whether kids should learn cursive writing.
A student practises cursive handwriting at P.S. 166 in the Queens borough of New York in 2017.
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Handwriting is a learned skill that must be taught through direct, developmentally progressive, consistent and sustained instruction. Teachers will need professional development and resources.
Writing cards, notes and love letters contributes to well-being and happiness.
(Shutterstock)