The state of education

Remember a few years back, the educated “eggheads” with all the letters behind their names, who run the current debacle called the education system in America and who have not spent time in the classroom, decided there was no need to teach cursive writing to students?

Well, as my Grandma would have said, “the chickens have come home to roost.”

Last month, I was at the Revenue Office to buy the license and pay sales tax on a vehicle. A young man was there getting his driver’s license for the first time. My observation was that it was likely a “Restricted License,” as his mother was with him. Applications were made, the correct pages of paper were exchanged and his photo was taken. While waiting for the photo to process, he had to read and sign a form. He turned to his mother and said he did not know how to sign his name. After struggling, he had to ask her, “How do I make a cursive F?”

A few days later, I observed a young man trying to read a handwritten note that was composed in cursive. He absolutely could not read it!

Have we regressed to the point where young people will revert to “making their mark,” as did the poorly educated people early in the last century? Have we devolved to the point that we cannot communicate with the handwritten word and proper grammar? Are we going to be reduced to communicate with universal signs and emojis, poor spelling and worse grammar?

My, my, my, how far we’ve progressed. I guess as long as we’re teaching computer coding we’ll be OK. R.T. REYNOLDS Hot Springs