I just finished reading a great essay written by a Ph.D. who researches the brain for improved learning. His brilliant work, quoted by writers, everywhere, who know the outcome more than the process, reveals:
We need to learn cursive.
Duh, right?
Dr. Klemm states that the activity in the brain changes when we hand write our essays, our notes, etc.
He even says children learn the alphabet and what it means, BETTER, when they write it out, even in printing, and even when they only make introductory stroke marks intended for eventually learning the alphabet.
I always knew that.
I could never prove it, but writing always works that way for me. My hand is correct, smooth, and readable as I begin, and morphs into a garbled, twisted mess as I continue recording my thoughts for you while I find them, organize them, scratch through some of them, rewrite them . . .
When I know it is important that I reach deep into my being and produce quality writing that connects for far more people than usual, I get out lined paper and a pen or pencil.
Preferably a pencil, and I know Dr. Klemm will eventually discover this about writing, too:
Pencils rule. Pencils give more freedom, due to erasing capabilities. Pencils are aware, making soft, appreciative and encouraging sounds that correspond to the thoughts they are recording. Pencils are more straightforward, humbly walking in direct contact with the paper, instead of roller-skating around uncooperatively.
It’s enough to fight for control of my thoughts, let alone of my writing tool.
But I digress.
My point is that those who would destroy a country would, of course, furiously aim at removing the skill that enables the people to reach more deeply into their souls and draw out quality expression that appeals to many.
To destroy a country, one must stop its Thomas Payne and Thomas Jefferson types, no?
Home's Cool! 
Thanks for substantiating what I had thought too. I had to share this with my other friends.
Hey, MG! Thanks so much for your kind words. I knew it, too, but wow, to read official research that proves it is such fun! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, too! 🙂
Just want to add the the Dr. found printing to have some of the same effects, and is not against printing for early learners. 🙂 I sort of forgot to mention that in the post. 🙂
Katharine, I’m going to reblog this post too! Isn’t it amazing that something as small as a pencil, the strokes of pencil in hand, could all be part of the process that God ordained…in the beginning! And consider the conniving evil power that attempts to eradicate the soul. God says our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of evil in high places.
Thank you for transmitting these words of wisdom.
DiAne
Diane, I am so glad you liked this!
Yes, in my opinion, everything about communicating is amazing, simply amazing. And when I think that God did everything with His Word, I just get goosebumps. Words, everything around us is just words, and we don’t even think about it! 🙂
Thanks for the reblog and thanks for caring!
Reblogged this on DiAne Gates and commented:
More pieces confirmed about the power of evil to disrupt and destroy. Pay very careful attention to this post from Katharine.
DiAne
❤ K
Wow, what a different perspective it provided me with Katharine ! Thank you for sharing ❤
Also I hope you are doing well. I had been away on hiatus since 3-6 months so haven't checked up here for a while. Wishing you the best,
With love,
Zee ❤
Hello, Zee!
It’s good to see you are back. Thanks for your very kind words! I sort of wonder, now, what perspectives you had before…;-)
I am doing well. Had a laptop mess up and took a break, myself, related to that. I’m not back in full swing, yet, and wondering about a slight change in direction, taking time to order things here, a bit, etc.
Hope your time off was profitable. And thanks for visiting! Hope to see you often?
Ah yes was busy in exams and studies, that counts as profitable, I hope ! lol
Its alright ,I myself am trying to get my roots back in, It feels like such a long time when I blogged, gonna take some time to fire up my engines!
And absolutely will see you soon 🙂
Yay! 🙂
Oh, I want to be careful to add, that the Dr. was also in favor of printing, early on. I’ve discovered a whole group of folks who want to eliminated printing, but the Dr. says even printing helps, Just to be sure, in case someone does not read the article. 🙂
Personally, I love cursive, and all my children will learn this dying art. I don’t care if it’s pretty, but I do care that they can put pen to old-fashioned paper, and make something out of it. (I’m a pen-lover, myself, only enjoying pencils for certain things…)
Hello, Tiff!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving this great comment! 🙂
I know what you mean about good, old-fashioned, but I think, really, being completely literate in one’s own language is more of a life skill than a dying art.
I cannot explain my love for the pencil. Maybe it is because my grandma often wrote to her daughter (my mom) in pencil, including even addressing the envelope. But I do like the way the pencil seems to sigh in pleasure as is whisks along.
And when I do use a pen, I like the kind you have to dip. The roly kind never do what I say. But then, I’m not too good on roller skates, either. Ha!
Now I have a mental picture of a pen on roller skates…lol!
Welcome to my world! 😀
I’ve been thinking about this too, and both of my children are learning cursive.
Jennifer! Great to see you here! Thanks for this comment, too! I’m glad you are teaching cursive–it certainly cannot hurt much, but so many say it’s so important. I believe that. It just gives more scope for the personality (soul) to shine. :
I loved it. Writing has always been one of the joys of my life, and it seems I share with you a deep respect for the humble pencil. Thank-you.
Why, thank you, Sir, and WELCOME to Home’s Cool! I’m glad you enjoyed this post. 🙂
Yes, I love pencils! I travel down the stationery aisle in almost every store I visit, just looking…and something almost always manages to jump into my shopping cart. Ha.
Now there is a new study out that tells us kids in college take better notes, and study better from their notes when they write them instead of using a small keyboard for them. It’s going to be very interesting to me to see who hangs on to this treasure of being able to write.
Massachusetts recently voted to retain cursive instruction in their schools. Yay!
Hope you visit again, soon!