By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
In the sixth grade, my teacher set aside part of my recess time to work on my handwriting. Do you have a clue to the difficulty others found and still find in deciphering my pitiful penmanship? This grade-A student always received a U for unsatisfactory until I finished grade school. By then, the teachers gave up.
I have friends whose handwriting resembles a work of art with beautifully flowing lines that make even the smallest word appear like it should be framed. Yes, jealousy for those people makes me a bit green.
The invention of keyboards took my messiness to a level of readability, but there are times when a handwritten note is necessary. Sigh. If you are like me, you might wonder if National Handwriting Day honors only those with perfect penmanship or for the rest of us to appreciate the art.
The History of National Handwriting Day states handwriting began with the people of Mesopotamia people in the year 3400 BC. That’s when civilization invented writing on clay tablets. Hundreds of years later in the 1770s, Europe established schools to enhance handwriting. In 1977, those concerned about the quality of students’ handwriting decided to do something about it and set apart January 23rd as a day to honor the skill.
How do we celebrate this day? Here are three ways you can honor those who found it necessary to remind us that handwriting is important for effective communication.
- Practice and practice some more. *This doesn’t mean we change the font on our devices so our penmanship is stellar. This means paper and pen/pencil. Consider the process a game, and we are competing against ourselves.
- Research the handwritten documents of our world and note the expertise in the writing.
- For fun, try writing with your less dominant hand. For all of us whose handwriting is atrocious, we will feel better ourselves.
This article offers more interesting information about National Handwriting Day. I encourage you to take a quick read. Researching this short article officially challenged me to better my penmanship. I hope it inspires you too.
What tips do you have to perfect your handwriting skills?
I loved learning to write in cursive in grade school. I received a certificate for beautiful work.
Linda, I’m officially pea-green jealous. But happy for you!
I just turned 90 years of age this month, and I was still getting compliments last year for my handwriting. Thanks for 2 years in Junior High School, in Memphis, TEXAS where I was taught cursive. I really enjoyed that class:~))
Vondia, I’m envious! I keep telling myself that one day I’ll practice – but it hasn’t happened yet.
The modern progressive idea of eliminating handwriting for young children is yet another good idea that is in fact really bad. Research shows that brain function improves when children learn good handwriting. Google it. The key point, as I’ve read, is that repeatedly crossing the right-left facial mid-line back and forth with our hand and eyes is what makes the improvement happen. Why is it that so many modern ideas these days are really bad? I think it’s because as a culture, we have come to value “modern” over “traditional”, and self-expression over self-control. Of course the root cause of those shifts is deeper, but that’s another story—or another book.
Computers are great for writing novels, but keep writing cards and things by hand, everyone. It’s not too late!
Lewis, you have brought up a valid point. Our children need to know and understand the value of good handwriting.
The secret to success is making sure your children and grandchildren have great history and memories of loved ones. Write endearing letters and notes so that relatives and friends cherish those special moments.
I can remember my grandmothers handwriting well. She gave us birthday cards with long gracious notes. I’m repeating history. I’ve been really excited to create my own cards to give to my grandchildren and close friends and relatives. Its been a hit with everyone so far.
Thanks, Dawn, over the holidays, we read a few letters from my husband’s grandmother. Beautiful handwriting and poetic to read.
Taking shorthand made a mess of my handwriting and played havoc with spelling. With each passing invention: typewriters, word processors, computers, both my handwriting and spelling have suffered even more. Perhaps I should move to California where “they” have reinstated cursive writing in schools. Ummm. All things considered, I’ll stay in North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains!
Peggy, all those above mentioned modern devices have destroyed good handwriting. I’ll just practice more and stay in beautiful Texas! Have a great day.
I myself think the skill of cursive handwriting should have never been removed from schools. Such a shame
Gail, I agree. It’s an art form and needs to be nourished. Thanks!
In grade school, my handwriting skills were near perfect until my teacher decided to adjust my pen holding technique citing it wasn’t “proper.” My mother decided I should stick with my own approach. Yeah Mom!
Sadly, college note taking wrecked my handwriting career for good. The only advice I have is to slow down and concentrate but that only works for a few lines and it’s back to chicken scratches.
I enjoyed your story, DiAnn.
Teresa, I was nodding the whole way through your comments. We are so alike! In this fast-paced life, who ever slows down?
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked if I was a doctor. LOL. I usually respond with, “No, I was a left-handed kid growing up in the 50s, when being left-handed in school was not allowed.” 🙂
J. D., that is so unfair! Of course Dr. Wininger has a good ring to it! 🙂
Thanks for the inspiring post about handwriting. Most of us admire pretty penmanship. I am disappointed that too many schools do not teach cursive writing. A lovely note is twice as nice when it is handwritten.
Jackie, you are so right. When I’m responding to an e-card or sending one, I often use a cursive font for a better feel.
I still love receiving hand written notes from friends and family . The personal touch adds special meaning. I am discouraged by some schools eliminating teaching cursive handwriting. This skill is still necessary and would add to a student’s creative ability. Thanks for sharing about National Handwriting Day.
Barbara, I wish schools would put an emphasis on handwritting but it seems to be forgotten. I cherish handwritten notes.
While my penmanship is barely readable, it gets even worse when I have a migraine. And while my spelling is exemplary, I appear to be dyslexic with migraine. My mother had beautiful handwriting, but my father and each of my four brothers also had poor penmanship. Maybe it’s genetic? Lol
Teresa, I remember my dad’s handwriting was better than my mom’s. Teresa, I don’t even try to write when I have a migraine.