National Handwriting Day. Just Pretty Writing?

What is National Handwriting Day?  When is it?
 
Handwriting.  Print.  Cursive.  You remember, maybe?  The practice of penmanship that pre-dates keyboarding words into computers. 
 
In the late 1970s, penmanship inspired the creation in the United States of the unofficial holiday known as National Handwriting Day.  The commemoration occurs annually on January 23, the birthday of John Hancock (1737-1793), the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

English Round Hand, also known as Copperplate, is the name of the elegant penmanship style of the Declaration of Independence.

​​​Is penmanship old school now?  Even archaic?  Nothing more than a superfluous pastime in a high-tech society?

The creators of National Handwriting Day feared it might become so, given the increase in technology and the decrease of cursive instruction in elementary schools.  
 
What is Penmanship? 
 
To be clear, a pencil or a pen is used to create penmanship on a writing surface.  The world of penmanship divides in two:  manuscript (print) and cursive (the fluid longhand that connects most letters in one word). 
 
Everyone seems to agree that learning to print is a necessary skill, if only to advance learning to read print.  Cursive, on the other hand, is under siege in some quarters.
 
You know what print looks like—you’re reading it.  Both print and cursive come in more than one  style.  Here’s a sample of the Palmer method for cursive handwriting.  If you attended grade school before the late 1970s, you probably studied Palmer cursive.

Palmer Method of Cursive Handwriting.

​In 1890, the Palmer Method replaced the more ornate Spenserian system in an effort to increase  efficiency in American business.  (The Spencerian method, developed in the mid-1800s, was an attempt to simplify and standardize the cursive styles of the day.  It you see a trend here, you’re right.)
 
The Palmer Method has remained relatively unchanged and is still used in the United States.    D’Nealian script for both print and cursive was introduced into American schools in the late 1970s.  Other handwriting styles are still current:  you can read about seven common ones at https://artofhandwriting.com/7-commonly-used-penmanship-styles/
 
No matter what cursive style you learned, your script is uniquely yours. 
 
Given a large enough sample, graphologists can discern some of the writer’s personality characteristics and his or her psychological state at the time of writing.  https://www.graphology.co.uk

...each one of us involuntarily expresses up to 60 graphological signs through our writing which point to unique psychological characteristics.
                                                                             --British Academy of Graphology

Why Does Cursive Handwriting Matter in a Digital Age?
 
In June 2016, the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation published the paper, “The Truth About Cursive Handwriting:  Why It Matters in a Digital Age.” Visit ​​https://www.ahafhandwriting.org/sites/default/pdf/white-paper.pdf for the full report.

 The Truth About Cursive Handwriting:  Why It Matters in a Digital Age," American Handwriting Analysis Foundation, June 2016.  

Arguments Against?  The Foundation discussed arguments against cursive handwriting instruction.
​

1. Voice-recognition electronics are being developed and refined to take the place of reading and writing.
2. Teaching handwriting instead of keyboarding takes away from [other subjects] and does not prepare individuals for the workplace.
3. Children are more literate than ever. 
4. Handwriting is an obsolete technology.
5. Ideas and thoughts are what matters.
6. Students need to compose, edit and think on the computer.
7. Cursive proficiency correlates to verbal/cognitive skill is a “Luddite” delusion.

 ​​​
Arguments For?  The Foundation discussed arguments in favor of cursive handwriting instruction.

1. Hand-eye coordination is a major developmental feature of handwriting.
2. Letter and word recognition, comprehension, abstract thought, and memory are shown to improve with handwriting.
3. Neural development increases and expands in areas of language, memory, word recognition, and emotion with handwriting.

Get a good pen that feels good in your hand.

​How Can I Improve My Handwriting?
 
The goal of cursive handwriting is legibility, rapidity, ease, and endurance.  So… 

• Get a good pen that feels good in your hand, and hold it with a relaxed grip. 
• Use healthy posture:  sit up straight with both of your shoulders at equal height and your eyes far away enough from the writing surface for safety.  
• Practice the style you want to emulate.  
• Visit https://thepostmansknock.com/8-tips-improve-your-handwriting/ for more tips.

 
How to Celebrate National Handwriting Day?
 
Perhaps you’ve guessed that I’m an aficionada of cursive handwriting.  And yes, I do believe it should be taught to children for all of the good reasons listed by the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation.  
 
I’m an author who uses—and who wouldn’t want to be without—a computer to write my novels.  I send email and text messages as well as voice mail. 
 
But I value cursive writing for the physical act of penmanship and the personal touch it conveys to my correspondents.   I don’t want to give it up.  And I cherish the few handwritten letters I have from loved ones who have passed away.
 
So how might you celebrate the holiday?  Using cursive handwriting...

• Write your signature.  Can most adults read it?  Can you?
• Write a note and see if a Millennial can decipher it. 
• Write a letter to a loved one.  He or she will probably thank you.

Until next time, best wishes and good reading!

The pleasure of writing...The pleasure of reading.