Five realizations : deus ex machine edition, plus a discussion of cursive.
above : Boy eating ice cream before father swoops in to assist.
1a.
This has gone on long enough. Someday, I will remember to bring my own (sharp) knives to Spaghetti Factory.
2.
Which reminds me: I have a suspicion that Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events just might be the best series of books ever written, and believe me, I have read at least a billion books in my life so far.
I am fighting, strongly, the urge to cheat on my children and read on ahead. Book 8, The Vile Village, is one of the best yet - what other pseudo-children's series can you think of where the protagonists engage in ongoing dialogue about the meaning of deus ex machina?
(Which is: a classic storytelling device in which a seemingly impossible situation is abruptly solved by the sudden appearance of a contrived plot device. Oh, our heroine is about to fall off a cliff. Oh no! But fortunately...that helicopter randomly flying by is able to rescue her. Catastrophe averted. Or: oh no! The hero's sword just broke and the evil ninjas are about to defeat him...but look! Someone left a flamethrower laying around, so looks like he's gonna make it agree all. Deus ex machina: "god in the machine." No matter how horrible the situation, you can always pull the puppet strings and write your way out of it.)
Brilliant, absolutely top-notch storytelling that is frequently so maddeningly hilarious that I start laughing and getting angry I didn't write it first. So, so good. For children, for adults, for everyone who appreciates adventure, witty humor, and sad endings.
2, ii.
Inexplicably, I love - LOVE - "The Ballad of Michael Valentino" by the Killers, off 2011's Sawdust.
3a.
I will love you no matter how old I am, even when I'm a hundred and three.
I told our son.
Well Daddy,
he said.
When you're a hundred and three then you might not look like my Daddy anymore.
Well,
I said.
When I'm a hundred and three, then you might be bald, and that would be funny.
Oh.
He said.
How does Hulk go to the bathroom? His bottom is too big to fit on the toilet.
Truthfully,
I replied (an unnecessary preface),
That is probably the best question I've been asked all week. And honestly, I do not know, but I want to know.
Oh.
He said.
Me too.
4.
We spent too much time discussing the Winter Olympics last month, as evidenced by the UNO game we played this week. First off, I am disgruntled because it was supposed to be a quick match; an obligatory game before launching into the cinematic delight of Scorcese's Hugo. Rather, this match reminded me of why I refuse to play Monopoly: this UNO game lasted hours.* At the end, there was a medal count, which I attempted to disrupt. My wife took the Gold, my son accidentally got Silver, and my daughter and I duked it out for Bronze. I refuse to disclose the final results, but let's just say if there were podiums, I would have been standing on the floor.
Total failure was averted by the killer playlist I soundtracked the match with, which I began before we begun:
Lana Del Rey
Eleanor Friedberger
Ennio Morricone
the Killers
Alt-j
I don't mind losing, I just don't like other people winning.
*seemed like hours
Happy weekend, all
The Gleaner (homage to Agnès Varda).
Cursive.
(comments from Facebook)
My question:
?
Regarding: Children learning cursive.
Relevancy today? Important?
Yes? No? Big discussion going on. Thoughts?
Jeffrey
Hot-potato item here. Its relevancy is definitely in question.
Jennifer
I'm a fan. I think it should still be taught. Our girls will be learning it.
Mary F.
Total fan... love to look at variety of signatures :)
Richard D.
Classy i think.
David H.
the answer is yes... if for nothing other than utilizing brain power and creativity
Jeremy G.
Irrelevant and pointless. I'm glad they don't teach it anymore. Public school in general is at the edge of irrelevance. Why learn something we will never use?
David H.
you never sign documents with a writing utensil? write post cards to folks when you travel? write love letters to a significant other? sorry... but digital media simply isn't warm enough for that...
Derene S.
Yes! I don't think we want to lose it.
Carrie C.
Teaching it to my 2nd graders currently. The kids I've taught over the years have been super excited to transition from print to cursive. I think most of them see it as a privilege and a sign of some maturity.
Brian M.
I was rigorously trained in cursive by genuine Catholic nuns. Then I quit using it. I wish I had it back. I sometimes think about taking the time to practice and relearn it. When I take notes on students' speeches or actors' auditions or rehearsals I realize now that cursive would be quicker and neater than the printing I adopted in my 20s because I thought it was cooler--more ironic. I realize of course that in this day and age I should be using a tablet or a laptop, but I guess I have other spending priorities and haven't yet purchased either one. And my phone is just too damned tiny to do very much typing on. Where are you now, Sister Michael Sean?
Leanna S.
Interesting question....as a school based OT, I would love to weigh in in a little while. When I have something more than my tiny phone to type on. :-)
Sheri C.
Good one you, Carrie! I actually am right now as well. If for no other reason, I hate the thought of any of my students not being able to read cursive throughout their life. Additionally I believe it is an art and a relevant skill. Lastly, many people write quicker in cursive than in manuscript.
Jeremy G.
I can print on a postcard, and I just sign a scribble for my signature. I can see why some people want to keep it. In general, I'm about looking forward to new ways of communication and not back. It's just my personality. I'm sure every time there has been a major change in communication methods the old style holds on for awhile or becomes more of an art form. There was a time when people were outraged that people wanted to read silently vs. out loud. Technology will always shift how we communicate and it has since the beginning of time. I will teach my children that it's irrelevant. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. From my perspective I'm annoyed when I have to use a pen and paper for anything. Typing is far more effective to me and I spend SO much more time doing it, even on a tiny phone screen. Here's to the future. Cheers.
To clarify, my public school comment has nothing to do with amazing, hard working teachers. My children attend public school, seems that most teachers are frustrated at curriculum and standards they are forced to teach.
Kimberly W.
Yes to cursive!!!
Jennifer R.
Many years ago (about 20?) when I saw the first digital picture printed from a camera, I thought I was looking at a bad pic of the moon when it was my daughter on a hike, and I thought, no, digital cameras will never replace my Canon Sure Shot. Ever. So, as much as I love the old beautiful cursive from older generations, I honestly and sadly believe that cursive will be nothing more than the illegible hieroglyphics of the past, except by scholars. And at least much of the hieroglyphics could be interpreted by many illiterate people. Not so with cursive. So, say good bye to cursive with the next electronic generation IMHO.
Ghazala L.
Yes to cursive! Somewhere, some time ago, I read about a research study that linked cursive writing with developing creativity neurons (my turn of phrase).
Tim K.
If your kids want to learn it, teach them. If not there are probably other, more important battles worth fighting.
Kim K.
No one who learned it and uses it ever regrets it! I use a mix that is my "own". My eldest daughter refused and seriously regrets it now. My 13 y o son has received pay for writing his sisters papers for her because his cursive is BEAUTIFUL. Has to fall in the category of learning an instrument. No one who can play ever regretted learning how!
Nina R.
Relevancy today? Admittedly and unfortunately, not much. I had a similar conversation with some peers several months back and I learned many of them are unable to read cursive--for some reason that was alarming. Perhaps because I was raised during my homeschooling years with the idea that I would be "writing a lot for high school and college papers" before typing them out and printing was the norm. Important? Maybe not. But it's a wonderful skill and I find myself using cursive now, over printing. Quick scribbles on a pad for taking customer's orders may have influenced that;)
In the end, it makes me sad to know it may very well be fading. As a youngin' it was not my favorite writing task, but I do believe it helps instill a sort of patience and expands on handwriting skills:)
James R.B.
Anyone who doesn't learn cursive as well as to print is dismissing at least 3000 years of human history. Learning to read, write, and use print and or cursive is a basic rite of liberal art in the pursuit of brain health as well as the documentation and transmission of human civilization. It's an appropriate technology even for our times. Just sit in a corner and write in your journal for a few minutes in cursive and/or print---or a mix--and your brain will feel better, your thoughts can be documented, and throw in a few cartoons and your being will purr. I'm all for cursive.
Christine L.N.
I worked hard to encourage my fourth graders to master cursive for many of the above reasons... only to find out the fifth grade young teachers can't read it so don't encourage or require it. It made me sad, angry, appalled and a little frightened. But I guess it will be relegated as "art"... and will have the same benefits as playing an instrument... and require the same dedication and motivation. And soon, all books will be on electronic devices and we'll read them one word at a time... it is hard to show and feel your creativity while typing. Font choice? That's not creativity.
Joseph (me)
I am a big fan of handwriting in general, but have been on the fence with cursive.
Neutral territory, but leaning in the direction of "what's the point?"
SORT OF COHERENT BELOW.
But I've found myself thinking of it more in the notion - as Nina Schmidt, Ghazala Osman Long, and James R. Becraft imply - of being a necessary development of the creative process. I'm personally not a cursiver :) , for reasons possibly similar to Brian Massman (thought it was cooler developing my own anti-cursive printing technique, so that's what I use now). I have birthday cards from my Grandma in elegant cursive that take me forever to read because they're inscribed in beautiful...cursive. Cursive is in this weird place between calligraphy (art) and printing (communication); not really settled into either corner. It certainly forces the reader to slow down and process the message, and that's not always a bad thing?
MUMBO JUMBO BELOW.
More importantly - and my mind could easily be swayed tomorrow, or a decade from now - I think maybe there's a place for the LINEARITY of cursive being taught. We live in a world where non-linear thinking is increasingly valued, which, IMO, is a great thing - the ability to quickly make disparate connections, identify patterns, process the world in a fragmented, layered, ecosystem of constantly shifting variables, etc.. BUT, I do think there's always a place for linearity; for one thing following another, for slowing down and recognizing the chronological reality of much of life and simply processing information in a straightforward...linear mode. A little jump from discussing cursive, but I think perhaps there is value in continued development of skills that may not have CONCRETE applications (e.g. the relevancy of actually needing to USE cursive) versus the ABSTRACT application of simply learning the rote process (the analog process of connecting letters together, one after another, and getting your brain into that creative neuron rhythm of gently swirling one letter into the next)...
I don't know. My cursive is mediocre at best. So for the time being, I'm a fan of the PROCESS of learning cursive, without actually being a fan of using or reading it. Playing both sides, I guess :)
Thanks for the comments, everyone!
Jennifer R.
Cursive did not make this list:
http://time.com/.../how-to-make-your-kids-smarter-10.../
Delete or hide this
How To Make Your Kids Smarter: 10 Steps Backed By Science | TIME
James R.B.
Yes, Jennifer, cursive did not exactly, but it does say that "active learning" makes a difference. Working with the hand and eye learn concepts and form is important for advancing. Using cursive directly advances, it seems to me, mastering not only the forms with ink on paper, but gives shape to the concepts written. Typing on a keyboard does not match that "art" of active learning. Seems to me that the discipline of handwriting teaches many things. Imagine the discipline and active learning utilized in mastering the Chinese characters. In a smaller way might writing the European cursive (derived from ultimately proto-semitic) provide a discipline of form, structure, and concept tailor made to support human development of the mind? Might active learning with pen and ink or stylus and clay or pencil on paper change things on the maps in the brain more than just pecking away on a keyboard? In the same way drawing supports active seeing. In the same way trying to play by ear supports active listening. Each one would hope affects the mind in positive ways. I vote for cursive :) and the pedagogy of active learning.
Annette N.M.
Speaking as the mother of a dyslexic child I can tell you that learning cursive has made my child's writing legible - a very good thing. I am saddened that it is a dying "art" and it is true indeed that more and more have no idea how to read it. To me it is a lot like playing the piano, once you can sight read you may very well quit using it as a routine skill, but you can always use it when you choose. They are able to read when others choose to use cursive and it broadens their learning experience. My two cents added to James R. Becraft comments :)
