Illegal handwriting styles?

http://www.educationnews.org/ed_reports/97307.html

Take special note of the comment about homeschooler choices.

 

Wow, Jan Olsen has some nerve, doesn't she? What makes her way best? Now, I have used HWT and its good but, really to outlaw any other program? With all the atrocities in the world, people are wasting their time on outlawing handwriting courses. Insane!

 

I have never used their stuff, and certainly never will now!

 

Never used their stuff and am glad I live in Canada where handwriting is usually acceptable if an adult has chicken scrawl lol. I will continue to teach handwriting to my students/children and would speak out against a system that tried to monopolize any curriculum. Isn't the whole point that one size does NOT fit all??

 

Ditto!

 

The term Monopoly comes to mind! I have honestly never even looked at HWT and now I most certainly will not even consider it! I can not believe this woman would have the nerve to try and make anything but her handwriting method illegal and I assure you IF this ever goes into law I'd just as soon move to Canada or flat out be fined or arrested because I will not give her any of my husbands hard earned money!

 

Hey now move to Canada anyway

 

I have considered it a few times! I've been to Canada many times and it's so beautiful I really enjoy it! I know it sounds wrong but sometimes I just get so fed up with the baloney our Government is doing that I just want to leave it all behind, but I know that no where is perfect and that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Who knows, we may move eventually, but for now hubby has a great job that supports the family so we'll stay here even with all the chaos and turmoil going on.

 

Ugh! Of all the things to standardize, does handwriting really matter?!? Especially in the age of texting, typing and emailing. Handwriting happens for the most part, in your own private life. Most public communication is typed! Why does the government need to standardize that? Really people, pick something a little more important to lobby about next time please!!!

(sorry, little rant!)

 

ditto!

 

Birbitt- You are right the grass isn't always greener. And I always say go where the money is. So if Dh has a good job stick it out. Jobs are scarce anywhere these days.

 

For the longest time, public schools have not taught handwriting OR spelling -- NOW they're going to dictate (pardon the pun!) what handwriting style the whole country has to use???? I don't think so!

Sommer and Jackie - I'm with you!!!

 

Not using it. But seriously, if I was, I'd would not use it anymore. That's ridiculous.

 

That!

 

Did anyone take the poll here http://www.handwritingstandards.com/home ??

72% of votes STRONGLY agree!!!

 

Did you look way at the bottom to see who this website belongs to? HWT, of course!

 

someone has too much time on their hands. All I care about is that I can actually read the cursive handwriting. don't matter how you get there. Never looked at HWT and now I do my own thing with the kids.

 

This is crazy!!!

Now, I wish I could get my dad to write legibly, his writing is atrocious. But, I see no reason to make this law. People are dying and someone is worried about handwriting.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but it appears that this is for public schools. Also, it seems to be voluntary. They claim they are partnering up with different states to have a "Common Core State Standard" for the classroom teachers to follow.

Where did the writer of the blog get the idea that they were trying to make other handwriting curriculums illegal? The site talks about "Illegible" handwriting, not "illegal". Also, standards is not the same as making it the law of the land.

____________________________________________

Quote from FAQ:


Is having common standards the first step toward nationalizing education?

No. Common core standards are a state-led effort to give all students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. The federal government has not been involved in the development of the standards. Individual states will choose whether or not to adopt these standards.

What is the Common Core State Standards Initiative?

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort to establish a single set of clear educational standards for English-language arts and mathematics that states can share and voluntarily adopt. The standards have been informed by the best available evidence and the highest state standards across the country and globe and designed by a diverse group of teachers, experts, parents, and school administrators, so they reflect both our aspirations for our children and the realities of the classroom. These standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to go to college or enter the workforce and that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. The standards are benchmarked to international standards to guarantee that our students are competitive in the emerging global marketplace.


Will the common core state standards keep local teachers from deciding what or how to teach?

No. Common core standards are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for what knowledge and skills will help our students succeed. Local teachers, principals, superintendents and others will decide how the standards are to be met. Teachers will continue to devise lesson plans and tailor instruction to the individual needs of the students in their classrooms. Local teachers, principals, superintendents, and school boards will continue to make decisions about curriculum and how their school systems are operated.

http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CoreFAQ.pdf

 

And those that believe those answers are the same ones who know for a fact that Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy are real. Sure, maybe they "voluntarily adopt" them now, but the pressure to do so will be incredible. Idiot parents will think, "Why aren't OUR schools accepting these obviously great standards? If they don't, they must be below standard!" No, it's not a "first step" toward nationalized education; we've been taking steps toward that for a long time. More like a 100th step, but yes, it IS a step. "...give all students the skills and knowledge they need to suceed...." The implication is that any school NOT adopting them are NOT giving the students those skills.
And then the government will withold funding for schools that don't adopt them.