[Cyberman tM]

Correct me if wrong: cursive is the same as longhand/handwriting, yes? I.e. regular writing, nothing fancy?
(The word sounds so similar to a german word that I constantly think it means a special way of handwriting...)

Not sure if it should be removed, but I suppose it certainly can be toned down. Handwriting isn't that important anymore. Typing is more important nowadays.
Doesn't mean it should be ignored. But spending years merely to perfect it would be wasted, IMO.

Originally Posted by ardeegee

The loss of cursive is, IMHO, dumbing down education and dumbing down students so that they are no longer able to write like adults.

I can understand feeling a loss, but how is it dumbing down? They're not smarter because they are taught how to write longhand - as long as they know how to spell the words.

Reading and writing(spelling) - THAT is important. Probably for the next five hundred years or more.
Longhand is just a means to an end.

Originally Posted by Mortis

Think about a sympathy card printed by a machine instead of hand written by someone who cares? When I get cards from people that have printed them out on their computer I feel they don't care enough to hand write it, rather than just pushing a button.

So, would you prefer a generic and bland but handwritten card, or a touchingly written but printed(computer generated) card?

I'd say the medium is of little importance. If your handwriting can add value, then by all means, write.
But if you're like me - even my block/print letters have been compared to cuneiform writing - then the handwriting will add nothing but an ugly scrawling which will only provoke negative emotions. Because most people who value handwriting would think "he didn't even try".
Which, btw, would be wrong. I do try. But years of not writing - and never being good at it - have dulled my writing skills to the point of constant buffer-underrun. I.e. I have to think about how to form the letters.
I can type easily, though.

Originally Posted by voracious71

I still think kids should learn cursive. Sad that the basics seem to be falling by the wayside.

Basics change. When was the last time someone had to learn how to butcher an animal? (Except as hobby or profession of course)
"Basics" would nowadays instead be things like opening a can of corned beef. Much more likely to be a matter of survival.