Does anyone read the Constitution?

Sandra left the following comment to my post about cursive handwriting:

I can give you a specific example. Last year, I wrote end-of-semester notes to each of my students in my fairly neat, but definitely cursive, handwriting. One of my 9th grade students had to ask another student to read it to him because he had never learned to read cursive.

It also bothers me that such students will not be able to read important documents like the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution in their original form. Granted, these documents are certainly available (and more easily read) in typed form, but I think we lose a vital link with our history when our children need an interpreter to read our founding documents.

So we see, Sandra is worried that not learning how to write in cursive means not being able to read cursive, and consequently this will somehow harm people's understanding of the Constitution.

The bigger problem, Sandra, is that few Americans have even bothered to read the Constitution at all, and those few who read it certainly don't try to understand it, and if they understand it they ignore it.

The Constitution isn't supposed to be a museum piece, it's supposed to define the laws of the United States. And the system of government set up by the Constitution, where the government of the United States is one of limited enumerated powers (per Article II Section 8), and powers not granted to the United States remain with the state governments (per Amendment X), is ignored and not followed.

If the original Constitution is such a bad document that it's not worthy of being followed anymore, then why does it matter if people can't easily read it in its original handwritten form? (I use the word "easily" because I'm sure that a bright person who had a desire to read old documents but never had cursive writing in the third grade would be able to figure it out.)

None of the responses to my post about cursive writing really make any sense. I think the responses reflect a basic human failing, that people illogically hang on to tradition.

Comments

[kathleen]

Once again you seem to be missing the point about the important of reading and writing in cursive.

Sandra's point is a very important one. Students are missing out on more than just lost art. Reading the Constitution in its original form gives historical life to the document. It brings history alive and makes the importance of the laws of our land more precious.

I also think that reading the Constitution in its original form lends credence to its longevity. It is not just writing on a paper but an historical document with amazing significance to not only our history but to our present world as well.

I think you are a bit narrow minded. The Constitution is indeed an historical document with huge significance because it does define our laws. The fact that it is historical is what makes what is stated upon it so vitally important.

Being able to read these documents in their original state, any documents for that matter, should not be something we take for granted. Students should be taught to read and write in cursive so that they can appreciate their history.

The fact that people do not read and understand these documents is a shame and something should be done to change that fact. We shouldn't just shelf the documents just because people like you assume no one cares. People do care and there is nothing at all wrong with appreciating traditions. In fact, I think there is something wrong with people who very lightly toss traditions aside. It seems to make them rather narrow-minded.

[Half Sigma]

I'm sorry, I don't understand this argument at all.

First of all, being able to decipher cursive handwriting with a minimal level of ability is a far different skill than being able to write it. As I said above, anyone who is reasonable bright and is motivated to read an old document should be able to figure out what it says, unless they are stupid.

In none of my history classes, including a college level class in the Constitution and constitutional law in law school, was reading an actual non-typeset copy of the Constitution included in the instruction.

The same argument about reading the Constitution would apply to the Magna Carta, the Code of Hammurabai, and untold other historical documents, but we manage to learn history without being able to read a whole host of ancient languages. Some people become historians and linguists who specialize in researching old documents, and the rest of us do something else with our lives.

I don't see how asserting that we should top teaching a useless skill means that history should be "shelved."

[Kathleen]

You have made a valid point, "Code of Hammarabai...". I think cursive writing can be looked at more as an art form but you are correct is stating that that it is not a necessary tool in our educational system today. I have been debating this with my eldest daughter as well and she shared some of the same valid points that you brought up in regards to her college experience.

When I was in college we did look at a few copies of historical documents (Constitution, Declaration of Independence) and I was pleased that I could indeed read them.

You are right in that keyboarding skills are more conducive to the education of students today.

I do hope though that cursive writing be taught as an elective for those interested.

Thank you for replying.

[i hate cursive]

cursive is stupid no one needs to no how right cursive except the name and you dont even need to right your name in cursive but on cheks so i say cursive is dump

no one needs to read the dec of independences u will never see a kid reading the dec because us kids dont care wat happened back then enles u r a neerdddddddddddd and no one cares for neerdddddddddds but ther mom and nerdddddddd friends

cursive is somthing u dont need to no not like u need it to stay alive or somthing cursive is not needed for any jobs unlees u need to sighn important documents wich not all have to do if u need to learn but for us kids they shouldnt make us learn at school like right now im in the 8th grade and ther making me right cursive wich i cant do because of breaking my hand a whill back and so im goin to fell 8th grade for shor with out writing cursive and so my teacher is make me flunk because of or gay school destreck that will fuck all the kids up if they cant right cursive