The Evolution Of Handwriting Instruction Methods
Handwriting instruction methods have evolved significantly over time. From the earliest origins of writing in ancient civilizations to the development of formal penmanship education in the 19th and 20th centuries, the ways in which handwriting has been taught reflect the technologies and priorities of each era.
Some key developments include the rise of calligraphy and handwritten manuscripts in medieval Europe, the creation of copybooks and writing manuals starting in the Renaissance, and the establishment of the Palmer Method and other standardized cursive programs in American schools in the late 1800s. By the mid-1900s, the teaching of cursive was commonplace, though its prominence has declined with the advent of computers and digital communication. Debates continue today around the relevance and value of handwriting instruction given how society has changed.
Looking back at how our hands have formed letters and words over thousands of years shows not just the evolution of a practical skill, but also how handwriting has been entwined with culture, class, cognition, and communication.
Early Handwriting Instruction
Before the 19th century, handwriting instruction was not standardized or formally taught. Children were mainly taught writing individually by their parents or private tutors. There were no established methods for teaching penmanship. Handwriting instruction focused on practical writing skills like letter formation, appropriate slant, and legibility rather than aesthetic beauty. Children learned by directly copying examples in handwriting copybooks. Writing style varied greatly since it depended on who was teaching the child. Only the children of wealthy families received individualized handwriting instruction. The majority of children did not learn to write until attending whatever school was available. As a result, levels of literacy were much lower before the 1800s.
According to the Frontier American article “Introduction to 19th Century Penmanship & How to Do It,” handwriting before the 19th century was referred to as simply “handwriting” rather than “cursive,” and did not have systematic loops and ligatures connecting letters as modern cursive does [1].
The Rise of Formal Handwriting Instruction
During the 1800s, formal handwriting instruction emerged with the development of cursive scripts and copybooks. Educators began advocating for a standardized style of handwriting to be taught in schools. Before this time, handwriting styles varied greatly depending on factors like geography and social class. With the rise of literacy and commerce, a legible and uniform hand was seen as necessary for communication, record-keeping and business transactions.
In the early 19th century, Platt Rogers Spencer developed the Spencerian Method, which aimed to improve penmanship through a system of structured strokes and flourishes. Spencer created copybooks with examples for students to practice. Around the same time, John Jackson developed the Jacksonian Method, which also relied on copybooks but focused more on speed and efficiency. Both methods were widely adopted in American schools and laid the foundation for modern cursive handwriting.
Later in the 19th century, Austin Norman Palmer created the Palmer Method, which became the standard for cursive instruction in the 20th century. Palmer’s instruction focused on developing good posture, proper pen hold, and rhythm. His copybooks demonstrated letter slants and joins to help students write quickly and legibly. By the early 1900s, the Palmer Method was the dominant approach to handwriting instruction in American schools.
Overall, the 19th century saw great advances in formalizing handwriting instruction with standardized cursive scripts and copybooks. This transformed handwriting from a variable, individualized skill into a systematic discipline taught in schools. The Palmer Method in particular helped establish cursive as the dominant form of everyday handwriting in the 20th century.
The Palmer Method
The Palmer Method of penmanship instruction was created and promoted by Austin Norman Palmer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Method). It focused on muscle movement and rhythm to improve handwriting. Palmer believed that writing should be taught as a science, not an art. He analyzed writing styles to determine the best hand and arm movements to create each letterform. This led to a prescribed method of teaching handwriting with specific movements and sequences.
The Palmer Method became the most popular system for teaching handwriting in American schools in the early 1900s (https://thepalmermethod.com/). Palmer created textbooks, workbooks, and teacher training programs that were widely adopted. Teachers would demonstrate the specific movements and students would practice repeating them. The goal was uniform, legible handwriting. By the 1920s, it was the standard handwriting style taught in most U.S. schools.
Mid-20th Century Handwriting Instruction
In the early to mid 20th century, the primary method for teaching handwriting in schools was the Palmer Method. Developed by Austin Palmer in the late 1800s, the Palmer Method emphasized muscular movement and rhythm to form letters with a distinct slant and uniform shapes (Wikipedia). Students would practice with penmanship workbooks featuring the “Palmer Method” style of handwriting.
This formal, standardized approach to handwriting instruction was common in American schools in the 1950s. British schools also used very uniform handwriting styles, as evidenced by worksheets from the era (Reddit). The Palmer Method and other popular scripts like Zaner-Bloser emphasized repetition and conformity in letter shapes and slant.
By the mid-20th century, the Palmer Method dominated American handwriting education and penmanship workbooks. This method focused on developing good posture, character, and writing rhythm through consistent, structured practice.
The Decline of Cursive
Cursive writing started to decline in popularity in the late 1900s. According to an NPR article, in 2010 the U.S. government officially removed cursive writing from the required Common Core Standards for K-12 education (source). There were a few key reasons for this decline:
The rise of technology and prevalence of keyboards meant less handwriting was being done in general. Typing on computers and phones became the primary way of writing for many people. An Edutopia article notes that instruction in cursive has been declining since the 1970s as keyboards became more commonplace (source).
With less handwriting being done, cursive was seen by some as an unnecessary skill. Some educational policymakers advocated for focusing on keyboard skills rather than handwriting. Cursive was dropped from many school curriculums as it was viewed as less essential.
Teacher training programs began to decrease their focus on handwriting instruction, meaning new teachers were less equipped to teach cursive. A lack of formal instruction for students exacerbated the decline.
By the late 1900s and early 2000s, cursive writing saw a sharp decrease in usage and formal instruction. While debates continue about its value, it is far less prevalent today than in the past.
Impact of Computers and Keyboarding
The rise of personal computers and word processing software in the 1980s significantly impacted handwriting instruction in schools. With the ability to easily type and edit text on computers, many schools began to emphasize typing and keyboard skills over handwriting. According to The Impact of Electronic Devices on Handwriting, children’s increasing reliance on electronics often has negative effects on their handwriting abilities.
Many schools reduced the time spent on handwriting instruction and penmanship practice as keyboarding and computer skills became viewed as more essential. While cursive writing was previously taught in elementary school, it became seen as less critical with the prevalence of keyboards. This led many schools to eliminate or decrease focus on teaching cursive. The rise of computers reshaped views on the necessity of handwriting for daily tasks.
Current Teaching Methods and Debates
In today’s classrooms, handwriting instruction typically begins in kindergarten or first grade. The main methods used are variations of the D’Nealian style, which uses slanted print letters joined together in cursive-like script. This aims to ease the transition from print to cursive handwriting later on. Popular programs include Handwriting Modern Manuscript Interactive Learning, which uses interactive digital tools to demonstrate proper letter formation.
There are ongoing debates over teaching cursive handwriting versus having students focus on developing keyboarding skills early on. Some argue that cursive is no longer a critical skill needed for the digital age and that precious classroom time should be spent on computer skills instead. Others counter that learning cursive benefits reading, memory, and fine motor skills development. Some states have removed cursive requirements, while others have passed laws mandating its instruction. Ultimately, decisions on handwriting methods come down to individual districts and teachers. The role of cursive and manuscript in education continues to evolve.
Regional Differences
There are noticeable variations in handwriting methods and scripts around the world. In Europe, most countries traditionally taught cursive handwriting in schools, often adopting the slanted cursive scripts developed in the 19th century such as the Palmer Method in the US or the Sütterlin script in Germany.
According to discussions on Reddit (source), cursive remains the standard method of handwriting instruction across much of Europe. However, there are some regional variations in the specific cursive scripts taught. For example, the French cursive style has distinct looped letters compared to the more pointed style in Germany.
In parts of Eastern Europe such as Russia, a more blocky upright cursive script is common. Meanwhile, handwriting in Nordic countries like Finland has shifted towards printing rather than cursive writing in recent years as digital devices make handwriting less essential.
Outside Europe, handwriting methods can differ even more substantially. Scripts like Chinese characters or Arabic writing bear little resemblance to the Latin alphabet. Yet even within the Latin alphabet, handwriting conventions in places like Mexico use more looped cursive styles compared to the printed alphabets favored in the U.S. or Canada.
Therefore, while handwriting instruction is evolving globally, regional scripts and conventions still lead to noticeable variations in handwriting worldwide.
Future of Handwriting Instruction
Handwriting instruction methods will likely continue to evolve along with advancements in technology. While cursive writing may become less emphasized, legible handwriting remains an important skill (The uncertain future of handwriting). However, the rise of digital devices has impacted how often students write by hand, raising debates around whether handwriting retains its importance in the digital age (5 reasons kids still need to learn handwriting (no, AI has …)).
Some experts argue handwriting instruction needs to adapt to focus more on legibility and fluency rather than perfect cursive (5 reasons kids still need to learn handwriting (no, AI has …)). Typing and digital communication have become dominant forms of writing, yet handwriting maintains value for cognitive development and retains uses in certain contexts (The Future of Handwriting). Approaches that balance handwriting, typing skills, and arts integration may emerge as methods that best equip students for the future.