I understand the need for us to educate our young. But, these Common Core standards leave me cold.
I don’t see young folks learning civics, the basic concepts that bind us together as a nation. Politics is not a contact sport- the definition is to have sage and respectful discussions, leading to a useful outcome. It’s not just the jackasses in the House and the Senate- it’s most of us- who have lost the ability to have a conversation with others, learning their point of view and adjusting ours. (It’s the wise person who realizes that not all information is known- and can adjust their thoughts to accommodate new facts. [NOTE: That’s FACTS, not brazen lies.])
And, I also take great offense that the Common Core standards removed (2010) the need to teach our very young the art- and skill- of cursive writing. It’s part of the eye-hand-brain coordination skills needed in this world. (There’s even a scientific study that cursive may be a means to assist kids suffering from dyslexia!) Our country claims it’s worried that folks need good jobs and they are avoiding teaching the skill that is critical for motor skills, brain development, comprehension, and memory. Really?
As I’ve mentioned many times, I still use a fountain pen. 
(I have both a Parker- one I’ve owned for more than 5 decades- as well as a MontBlanc.) It’s my preferred means of written communication. (Not that I don’t talk a mile a minute- and for many minutes a day.) Not to mention the fact that these new students will think that the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution must have been written in Chinese characters. (They really can’t identify or read cursive writing.)
So, I’m thrilled that 21 states stuck their middle fingers up against this concept. They are now teaching cursive writing in elementary schools. But, many of these systems are not requiring that skill because of the eye-brain-hand coordination- but because they are Wrong Wing and associate cursive writing with conservatism. (Leave it to folks who know nothing to invent their own facts- instead of acquiring real data.)
But, more importantly, I find that Millennials are not just enamored of elegant (and very expensive) wristwatches and fitbits. But, fountain pens!!!
It’s not difficult now to see shops replete with fountain pens- in a rainbow of colors and fashions. (There are even “indie” pen companies now- turning out custom designs.) And, as I found out recently when I pressed just a little too hard, while writing a letter to a friend, there’s a shortage of nibs. (These are the [typically] gold pieces at the end of the pen, from which the ink flows to the paper. They come in a variety of widths, to enable extra fine writing to effecting musical notation.)
It seems that while this new generation may not write often, when they do, they want to experience the joy of writing- and letting others know they are taking care to send them the very best.
Want to join the counter-revolution with me?
They’re back, huh? I love my good ole pens but I also like my electronic ways of putting things down. Teaching our youth, as well as our elders, are both important. Being- wait I know this- 46! I suppose I’m the LOST generation right now. We don’t fit into the senior category YET- in a few years or is that 65 and above, and we are not millennials. So it’s up to us to bridge the gap and bring the masses together! Growing up we had to learn the “classic” way of knowing how to do things say the pen and paper and the typewriter and we were the first generation to start learning on computers in school. Remember Compuserve? AOL? now we have touchpads and all…..Politics we had to learn history to learn from our past so we didn’t repeat the bad only the good, but we experienced all that politics has become. Where does politics truly end? Heck, even our dogs or issues for our dogs are becoming political today. From dogpark establishment to walking with your dog down the street and having your dog lunge over to another dog! Where does the madness end?
I type plenty (thankfully at around 100 wpm), but I still resort to grabbing a nice piece of stationery and inking my thoughts (or a poem) to share with another.
Thanks for the visit, Pamela!
I loved writing with fountain pens. Now You’ve got me thinking I need to get one.
No waiting allowed, Marcia. Get thee to a stationery shop!
I didn’t know that they removed Cursive Writing. That is one of the basic tenants of learning to write for Crimes Sakes! I don’t even recognize the curriculum anymore. Very sad.
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That’s because you are thousands of miles away in Belize, Jyll!
Absolutely I’ll join you! I write notes in cursive and send them via snail mail every week. It’s one of the ways I stay connected to those I love and people I want to encourage. However, I must admit, it’s been more than a year since I used my fountain pen… buying the ink just hasn’t been on my “to-do” list! You’ve renewed the desire. 🙂
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A woman after my own heart (or at least in this venue…)
Thanks for sharing your practice, Lori. It’s a great way to let one’s customers and contacts how appreciated they are!
I do very little writing nowadays – I type on computers all day long (and into the night). But, in high school, I used fountain pens – and I even preferred the ones that you filled manually (rather than buy a cartridge). I just loved the feel of them. As for cursive writing, I am totally with you on that. My son, who is in his late 20’s, can neither read or write in cursive. I 100% feel cursive should be part of a basic education.
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My son (whose birthday is today, I might add) only knows cursive because I demanded he learn that skill.
I agree with you about teaching our kids to write in cursive. Fountain pens seem nice, too, but give me a ball point pen, instead.
Fountain pens are my thing, Jeanine. Our company used to give away ball-point pens, but I never used them. The closest I can come to those are the roller inkjet pens.
Your comments are full of truisms and very well written. I also have a Parker fountain pen and have 4 Schaeffer “cartridge” pens. Remember those. They were cheap and had little cartridges full of ink and you reloaded. Usually the extra cartridges came in a 5 pak. I haven’t been able to find them anymore in office supply aisles. It gave a student a chance to write with a fountain pen at a cheap price. Keep writing those comments, they are needed!
Schaeffer is still around, Douglas. And, I think I’ve seen their cartridges in Office Max and Staples, to boot!
Oh, this is (and could) be a great development! It’s been a very long time since I held a fountain pen, and cursive writing is something i’d like to see more of particularly from our children. I really hope it catches on in the school systems. Keyboarding just doesn’t cut it – if for nothing more than the reasons you’ve outlined here.
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Thanks for adding to the conversation, Barb!
How I remember the fountain pens I used in junior and senior high school. I also remember the times when the ink spilled on the desk when changing the cartridge! LOL While we need technology, I still believe in teaching the elementary aged students cursive and regular math. I can’t for the life of me figure out how or way people think common core is better than sliced bread. I can’t even help my 9 year old great grandson with his homework because I don’t know how! I know the answer the “old fashion way” but not using 2 sheets of paper for one problem.
Martha! You used a cartridge and didn’t suck your ink up in the rubber bladder? You missed out on all the fun! (I also could change the ink I wrote with routinely- since I had multiple bladders.)
I totally so agree with you on this, Roy. My fountain pen was my treasured school accessory. While I do not have one now, I still enjoy writing on paper and yes, using cursive, which seems to be a strange way to write for kids nowadays! I have been contemplating buying a fountain pen for myself of late however, and your post has tempted me further
What are you waiting for? Don’t you miss that black ink all over your hand? 🙂
I would have to agree with you. It’s the least I can do because as much as I would like to join you in your revolution, it’s not physically possible haha
This is a fun post to read. I like the tone. I enjoyed a lot while reading especially that line about the Millenials.
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Glad I kept you engaged! Thanks so much for the visit!
You said, “there’s a shortage of nibs.” Did you mean, “there’s no shortage of nibs.”? I ask because, when I did a search for “buy fountain pen nib only” I got a lot of hits. So, if you’re looking for a nib, here’s the search page I got: https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=buy+fountain+pen+nib+only&addon=opensearch Good luck from a fellow fountain pen lover. I get mine from jetpens.com.
Oh, there are plenty of sites. But, most of them don’t have any in stock- or they aren’t the gold ones that work best.
I will check out jetpens.com. (Yes, being a lefty means I am hard on nibs.)
Great post Roy. I do not relate to your school system since I live in Canada. But, yes, writing personal notes, cards with a fountain pen is special. I also like that when I write with one of my pens my mind seems to quiet down and concentrate on the writing; much more so than when I use the computer. Like you I am a fast typer, but these days I notice small errors slipping in which I do not get when writing by hand. We all need to learn to write by hand in cursive. This block letter system in schools these days is ridiculous. You cannot develop a fine hand with it. Keep it up Roy. You always have fascinating posts. Where do you find the time….?
I am like the Eveready Bunny, Jessica. I just keep going and going and going…