Dear Dearest, (Conflicted Cursive)

AsDear Dearest, 

I have an issue that is really getting next to me emotionally. I am a consultant and I met this 16 year old young lady. We discussed some issues in regard to her family that were confidential and concluding our encounter, I needed her signature on a document. She proceeded by printing her name. I asked her again for her signature in which she stated that she had seen her parents sign stuff but was not taught to write in cursive (only print). Maybe it’s a sign of the times but I am very upset about this. These youngsters do not know what is going on in the world. I know that I am an older adult but what happened to penmanship and current events? I mean what happened with the older generation teaching? I’m just saying. We have to take lead as parents and grandparents because this new generation needs help. They are not being taught basics, no shade towards teachers. Just expressing my deep concern. Should this concern me? #cursiveconflict

Dear Cursive Conflict, 

This is not just concerning but alarming. This goes deep for me because I feel like this with young people that don’t read. Try asking young people their favorite book? They really will look at you strange. My suggestion is, we as elders need to formulate community groups that teach the skills that schools have fallen short on. I was an educator for 20 years and if it’s not in the curriculum they are not hitting on it. It’s a shame when our Asian counterparts spend countless hours learning the discipline of penmanship and score very high academically yet we throw it by the waist side. And we wonder why our young still miss the polls to vote because they don’t engage in current events. I’m with you. Let’s put our children on YouTube and make sure the learn cursive like they do putting weave tracks in their hair God Bless.