Calligraphy, the art and skill of writing by hand, has developed over thousands of years. Due to rapid technological advancements, it makes sense for the curriculum to adapt. However, this may mean that some “outdated” skills, such as penmanship, could become obsolete.

Although complicated handwriting like cursive is not essential in school, basic print, or capital letters, are used to teach most subjects. Pressing buttons on a keyboard can put together the words you want, but it won’t teach you how to write the actual letters.

The exams that Hong Kong students take in their final year of school, whether the secondary school diploma or the International Baccalaureate, must be handwritten. Most students won’t have the choice to use a computer in times as demanding as these, which is why schools need to teach them good handwriting skills.

Handwriting is not only a requirement for most exams, but also a fundamental skill for most popular fields and everyday tasks. For example, writing prescriptions as a doctor, taking notes as a journalist, or correcting homework as a teacher all require motor memory and speed, which are honed through the practice students receive.

Although many teenagers prefer to type because of its speed, studies have shown that this method is much less stimulating for the brain.

According to Dr. Sophia Vinci-Booher, assistant professor of psychology and human development at Vanderbilt University, writing by hand uses more brain power than typing. This is because your brain must constantly process the letters you write down as soon as they are formed.

Research also shows that handwriting strengthens connections between brain regions, including memory and processing power. This means that when you’re taking notes and studying for tests, writing by hand uses your fine motor skills and helps you remember information better than typing it, according to an article in Science News Explores.

Computers are not going away anytime soon, so typing needs to be taught and learned. However, handwriting is something that young people cannot choose to master voluntarily. This is why schools must continue to teach calligraphy alongside typing and digital skills.

Students may ultimately prefer one over the other, but they should be given the opportunity to make that choice.

Should Hong Kong schools continue virtual classes during weather-related school closures?

Against: Patrick Chum, 15 years old, Winchester College (United Kingdom)

Patrick Chum attends Winchester College, United Kingdom. Photo: Handout

With the rise of technology, many schools have adopted computers and tablets. Mine, for example, has entered the trend and we work mainly on laptops. For this reason, students – and society as a whole – are typing more and writing less by hand.

This begs the question: should we continue to teach calligraphy in schools?

A key element of calligraphy is cursive. Students learn cursive writing during their foundation years, spending hours practicing their way of writing instead of better understanding the topics they are writing about.

For younger children, whose fine motor skills are still developing, learning to write in cursive is very difficult. Focusing on writing in a rigid and strict form prevents children from developing their writing naturally and makes writing complicated.

The time spent teaching calligraphy at school could be used for other, more relevant subjects and issues, such as climate change or current events.

Cursive writing, in particular, is irrelevant and should be phased out to make room for more important topics. Handwriting is rare and printed text is more common in calligraphy. With the rise of computers, typing is increasingly used in everyday life.

So why should we still teach a sophisticated form of writing when no one writes in the first place, let alone cursive?

Additionally, as printed text becomes more common, only some people can read cursive writing, which is often complicated. Typing is simply more convenient and efficient.

It’s not like schools are afraid to stop teaching subjects as soon as they become obsolete. It is difficult today to find a school that teaches students to use typewriters or floppy disks. Most readers probably have no idea what these devices are and would probably be surprised to include them in a school lesson.

Now that handwriting no longer matters and there are more crucial digital skills to learn, it makes sense for schools to allocate their limited time, money and resources elsewhere.

In conclusion, I believe that calligraphy is outdated, obsolete and excessive. We should redirect our limited time in school toward more critical and essential subjects, adapting our curriculum to include new subjects and skills that have become more commonplace.