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Showing Original Post only (View all)Rachel Jeantel, witness at Zimmerman trial, can't read or write in cursive. Is that a big deal? [View all]
Today I was on Reddit and came across an article about today's developments in the Zimmerman trial.
George Zimmerman Witness Can't Read Letter She 'Wrote' About Shooting:
A teenage friend of Trayvon Martin was forced to admit today in the George Zimmerman murder trial that she did not write a letter that was sent to Martin's mother describing what she allegedly heard on a phone call with Martin moments before he was shot.
In a painfully embarrassing moment, Rachel Jeantel was asked to read the letter out loud in court.
"Are you able to read that at all?" defense attorney Don West asked.
Jeantel, head bowed, eyes averted whispered into the court microphone, "Some but not all. I don't read cursive."
It sent a hush through the packed courtroom.
In a painfully embarrassing moment, Rachel Jeantel was asked to read the letter out loud in court.
"Are you able to read that at all?" defense attorney Don West asked.
Jeantel, head bowed, eyes averted whispered into the court microphone, "Some but not all. I don't read cursive."
It sent a hush through the packed courtroom.
I found this immediately disturbing and was profoundly sorry that the young lady had to admit such a thing, in open court, and in such a notorious and publicized trial. It made me sad and then angry. And while I was doing what I usually do when I'm angry about something, composing a post in order to inflict it on all of you here at DU, another much simpler thought occurred to me. I walked into the other room where my 11 year old was studying the periodic table -just kidding, he was playing LEGO Lord of the Rings- and asked him if he knew how to read and write cursive and other questions about the teaching of it in school. I also got out a ballpoint pen and a pad and had him read a couple of things I wrote and write a couple of things for me, as well.
Thankfully, he could read and write it but couldn't do the capitals very well- didn't know them all- and although he's moving into 6th grade when school starts up again, he said they only covered cursive in fourth grade but not fifth. I asked him if he hadn't had any writing assignments this year which had to be turned in, in cursive, and he said he hadn't.
Is...this...a...big...deal? Or maybe I should ask, isn't this a big deal?
I realize we live in the digital age and all but I was exploring why I found the whole issue so upsetting. First, for me cursive is the writing style adults use. When learning to write, moving from printed block letter to cursive was a signifier that I was becoming an adult, writing as one.
Is this a universal view or is it just me?
Second, I was surprised to find another more persistent thought bothering me: How can you write a decent love letter if you don't do it in cursive? How can you properly lasso a heart without letters fashioned from dreamy curves and loops? I imagine a love poem printed out in block letters and it strikes me as something out of Flowers for Algernon.
Is this only a big deal to me or is...America "moving on" or something?
PB
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Rachel Jeantel, witness at Zimmerman trial, can't read or write in cursive. Is that a big deal? [View all]
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
OP
Are most people okay with that? Do you have any feelings either way? I never liked...
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#3
I'm NOT ok with this... That means, notes on medical records, historical letters, and all kinds of
hlthe2b
Jun 2013
#7
I've worked in the field my entire life... Never have I worked with anyone who didn't use/couldn't
hlthe2b
Jun 2013
#39
i was just pointing out that you in the same sentence you referred to "read" and "use" separately
CreekDog
Jun 2013
#89
So you advocate for today's youth to be ignorant of the ability to read any kind of script?
hlthe2b
Jun 2013
#91
being able to read script is useful, but most script people will see is poorly written
CreekDog
Jun 2013
#93
I am very much aware of that as is eveyone on this thread who are arguing at the stupidity of doing
hlthe2b
Jun 2013
#142
That's one group, and maybe there is a point...but I've tested many children for readiness,
Sancho
Jun 2013
#144
Do you print your name TWICE on documents that ask you to "Sign here" and "Print here"?
WinkyDink
Jun 2013
#43
so you're saying signatures are supposed to be legible and readable as one's legal name?
CreekDog
Jun 2013
#52
Of course, but to encourage todays' youth to be ignorant of the notes written by parents/grandparent
hlthe2b
Jun 2013
#88
I agree about the utility of printing. It's the lack of being able to read and write in...
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#38
Funny, how I was expected to learn both to write in cursive AND to touch type...
hlthe2b
Jun 2013
#12
When I was a child, I was punished by a vindictive teacher who refused to teach me cursive because..
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#18
My OP wasn't meant as any slight to her. The unwritten assumption was that she was a product of...
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#65
We're all good! I just wanted to make that clear because so many people read DU, it's..
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#75
It's disturbing from an educational perspective; however, it's irrelevant to
kestrel91316
Jun 2013
#14
One of my career incarnations was as a 35mm film projectionist. I know what you mean...
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#33
I hear ya. Just...things like The Constitution are written in cursive. While I'm sure...
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#24
I think it's sad. Bad handwriting is one thing, but not being able to read cursive is a real loss,
pnwmom
Jun 2013
#21
It's not that she couldn't read cursive, it's that she couldn't read. no?
Jesus Malverde
Jun 2013
#28
See, I was under the same impression you were but I think it was JUST cursive.
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#44
If you can find an article that describes her as genuinely illerate, post a link.
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#60
The biggest shocker was that she was unable to read a letter she had supposedly written.
JVS
Jun 2013
#120
In this computer age, I don't think it matters. My cursive is almost illegible now because
fried eggs
Jun 2013
#37
Many school districts are phasing out cursive, which poses a problem to sight readers
apples and oranges
Jun 2013
#50
My son's a leftie. I was thinking about the smudge factor today after I quizzed him.
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#76
The only thing it is is an indictment of "No Child Left Behind" and "Race to the Bottom" ...
Myrina
Jun 2013
#70
According to the article, she had to admit in open court that she did not write the letter.
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#81
I had to learn Morse for my HAM radio operator's test years ago. Out of curiosity...
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#90
G'bye Cursive, and Good Riddance (and take the remnants of the Dewey Decimal System with you)
Captain Stern
Jun 2013
#117