It is believed by some that teaching calligraphy in schools is not required these days. I strongly agree with this due to the fact that we do not need to write by hand very often and modern methods of written communication should be focused on more.
First, we write by hand a lot less than in the past. People in the past would have used joined-up handwriting for letters, essays, schoolwork, and in their working lives. Nowadays, however, we mostly use computers and tablets to complete academic and professional tasks. As for written communication, emails and chat applications such as WhatsApp are used to connect with colleagues, family, and friends. So, due to the increasing use of electronic writing methods, a good command of neat handwriting is less necessary these days. For example, students often submit assignments and essays online, reducing the need for legible handwriting.
Secondly, technology is developing and changing extremely quickly, so our children need to learn as much about it as possible. So, it is vital that the school curriculum focuses more heavily on modern IT and communication skills than outdated practices such as traditional handwriting. These skills will be much more useful for them in the future to find good jobs than being able to write in cursive script. For instance, in Korea and Japan this is already being taught successfully in schools.
In conclusion, teaching pupils handwriting skills is not essential in today’s modern era, as it was very important in the past that is not the case now, and greater emphasis should be placed on contemporary writing methods.