They teach cursive - I don't know how much time is dedicated to it. That may be one thing that's sacrificed to cover keyboard skills, self-respect, FCAT prep, etc. It's just that kids learn it but don't see it as relevant. As soon as they are finished learning cursive, they fall back into printing.

Another combo here

Oh good point Web, I forgot about the keyboarding skills... back then I think computers were realized only in theory... I didn't touch one until 1985 ish.. ?

Depends on what I'm doing . . . for instructions or lists (to myself or others), I print and pretty well exclusively in solid caps . . . for a note or letter, I write, and in properly structured and punctuated sentences -- of course, I don't imagine too many would use solid capitals in cursive, no flow at all.

I definitely relate to your "hijack comments" Caroline . . . since I'm definitely "older than dirt" . . . my youngest 'kid' is 35.

These days kids just don't use handwriting that much...so much of what they "write" whether it's homework, texting their friends, "my spacing" on their computers ~ it's all done by picking the letters.

On the hijacking note: While I did learn cursive in 3rd grade, I took a typing class in highschool. So, our whole periods are dedicated to "picking the letters" as EZ would put it Hey... it's a lot faster than writing it out! Although, I admit, not nearly as creative.

From watching people on keyboards anymore, I don't think they learn to type the way we did. Most people I've seen kind of hunt and peck. When I was young, all the want ads that needed typing required between 70-90 wpm. Now, most seem happy if they can get someone doing 30-40 wpm. And I can't remember seeing anyone under 30 work a number pad using "10-key by touch".

I use both but print if it's for someone else to read because sometimes I can't read my own handwriting.

Now that I think about it, as I started to use the computer more and more, I got away from cursive writing and started printing more - perhaps because I didn't do it that much? I notice my hand tends to cramp up when I try to write for a long time - like doing Christmas cards. I'm left handed and writing's always been a bit of a pain anyway - I was really jealous when people started doing calligraphy which is torture for a lefty.

I do both. I use printing to emphasise something

Same here, If i write a note in cursive my kids can't read it well, and i think my writing is very tidy.I remember when having good penmanship was something to be proud of.I still enjoy writing, and still keep up snail-mail Pen-Pals, just for the practice and love of writing.

Just another highjack note on penmanship.

We have email friends in Germany. Occasionally we exchange snail mail or get a note in a package. His handwriting is exquisite! As a point of reference, he's in his 40's. I'd love to be able to write as well. And I've even practiced calligraphy!

I use combo.
I flunked the 3rd grade because I couldn't write in (readable) cursive. My cursive was horrible no matter how hard I tried. I remember sitting at home in tears as my dad would make me practice my cursive, not that it did any good. i still couldn't write it at all. I even had to take a special class to help with my penmanship but it didn't work. My print was perfect...but I HAD to write in cursive if I wanted a grade.
So in the 8th grade i was thrilled when they said I didn't have to write in cursive. In fact they wanted everyone to print because it was better to print on paperwork and such. and I guess they wanted everyone to remember how to print. we would have homework that would be "Print Only."

It's kinda funny because a week ago I was with my DF and we we're trying to write in cursive. It was so hard LOL I forgot how to write some of the letters even.

I am completely anal about the way I print... I print in all caps and people often remark that it looks like a typewriter... However when I write for my eyes only - i print my grocery list and to do lists in a curlier lower case.

Yes.. I have re-written my lists so they are neater... (I have issues) But I'm neat!

I thought that was just ME!!!!

Heavens no! She-ez, ever see it when somebody sets a piece of computer-text in all-caps with a mock-script or mock-calligraphy font? Ugly-@$$!