The Pen is Mightier than the Keyboard
I found myself staring at this exhibit wall at the recent Philadelphia Flower Show, not so much for its familiar message but more for the painstaking beauty of each of its letters. It’s sad to think that many of the children growing up today will never be able to read the U.S. Constitution in its original form because in case you haven’t heard, cursive writing is on life support. Time to write (in longhand) to your Congressman.
Thanks to the computer keyboard, my handwriting today is nothing to write home about. But that wasn’t always the case. (Way) back when I attended Catholic grade school, good penmanship was second in importance only to religious studies.
We were taught the Palmer Method style of writing developed in the late 1800s (and continued in use up until the 1980s). Arthur Palmer introduced his method in the book, Palmer’s Guide to Business Writing, a textbook that sold over a million copies in 1912 alone.
Writing cursive with rhythmic motions, we learned at an early age to develop our hand muscles to create upper and lowercase letters that were both uniform and beautiful. Once you got the hang of it, you could write with the speed of a typewriter and supposedly, educators gave the method credit for “increasing discipline and character... and reforming delinquents.”
I have two vivid memories connected to this penmanship style.
Not to brag or anything, but...I was one of the very few in my class to be awarded a special Palmer Method writing pen in recognition of my perfected exercises. It was blue “space age plastic” designed with circular curves for a tighter grip. I loved that pen.
And sadly, I remember using it in my writing class the day the principal announced that President Kennedy had been assassinated.
Many years later, as a woman in business, let’s just say I took more than my share of meeting notes in longhand. And as a writer, I always jot down interview notes by hand and later type out (readable) transcriptions to reinforce what I heard.
What I didn’t know scientifically, but certainly knew intuitively, was that by handwriting information, I was retaining more information and actually forming ideas in the process. Research has shown that printing letters and writing in cursive activates parts of the brain that are dormant when keyboarding or just looking at visual images.
There is apparently a unique relationship between the hand and the brain when it comes to composing thoughts and ideas. With cursive writing, the brain learns to integrate sensation, movement control and thinking. In a way you are firing on all cylinders which results in better test scores, increased comprehension and more original ideas.
Mandated Common Core Standards no longer require elementary students to learn cursive writing which is often dismissed as an “ancient skill.” So you have kids today who can’t read homework assignments written by a teacher in cursive, can’t sign their name, and can’t read any of the notes you left them reminding them to take out the trash...or else!
In a way it seems as if they are slowly losing their sight. Imagine never being able to read a love letter or poem. Never pouring over random scribbles in a personal journal. Staring blindly at an invitation or old manuscript written in calligraphy.
David Ogilvy, renowned as the Father of Advertising, said, “People who think well, write well.” And given what we now know about the benefits of cursive writing, it would also seem that people who write well, think well.
Anita Alvare (bio)/Alvare Associates/610-520-6140
Comments (6)
03.22.2016
Kevin
Wonderful but sad reflection, Anita.
I fondly remember my Palmer method exercises as well. Your reference to the principal’s announcement that JFK was assassinated brought back memories to me as well. I was in 3rd grade room 24 Miss Denzler’s class.
It is sad news to hear of the potential demise of beautiful, flowing penmanship. In MANY ways today’s society is not “firing on all cylinders”.
03.22.2016
Joyce Williams
Wow… now I know why my best creative concepts happen when I’m sitting in my favorite chair, staring out the window, sketching ideas with my pen on paper! I remember the Palmer method too—and the fountain pens that were required even in first grade. We did ovals and straight-line exercises over and over….
03.22.2016
Joe Cuozzo
Well written!! As a child of public school in the 70s and 80s, my cursive is horrible. Of course, it wasn’t really emphasized but I now need that skill when I struggle writing nice, handwritten, readable thank you notes to donors. Had one board member say recently - thanks for the handwritten note but I had trouble reading it. I’ve often said recently I need to take a class in how to write. I’m going to search for Palmer’s Book. Might be the solution. Keep up the good work. Love reading your blog. Joe
03.22.2016
dennis schneider
Anita, I enjoyed reading your commentary. I hope Ogilvy meant write well as in quality of thought process and means of expression and not penmanship. I have printed since junior high ,and as most in transervice can attest, my handwriting is challenging at best.
03.22.2016
Cynthia Schmidt
Anita, you said this so well. There is a definite connection between the hand and brain, as I discovered when completing two NaNoWriMos (National Novel Write Month). If I got stuck, instead of staring at the computer screen with hands in suspended animation on the keyboard, I got out my trusty yellow legal pad and started writing down random thoughts in longhand. Soon, the words were flowing again, and I could once more use the twenty-first century technology.
03.22.2016
Steph
As usual, you are right on! I am so happy that I learned to write using the Palmer method. People even now comment (when I am writing a check, for example) , “You have such nice writing for a leftie”! I always credit those IHM nuns for instilling in me the discipline. Today, I send out over 1100 birthday cards a year, all envelopes and notes inside the cards written in cursive, and a special thought for each person as I write. Yes, discipline must be the key to this long-standing practice. But it also brings me closer to those whose birthdays are being celebrated, and that’s a good thing too. Always your fan - Steph