The PEN is Mightier—But Do We Still Wield It?

Remember the days when the scribes were the smartest people in the room? They had one job—writing—and that made them indispensable. Fast forward to today, and we are still writing. Emails, WhatsApp texts, assignments, tweets (or Xs?), and now, even AI is trying to write for us. But here’s the catch—writing is more than just putting words on paper; it’s about structuring thoughts, building self-control, and sharpening attentiveness.

Yet, we groan at the sight of an essay prompt or a handwritten assignment. (Yes, my MA Education course at IGNOU reminds me of this weekly!) But let’s be honest—we’ve been writing all our lives. School essays, tuition notes, assessments, and now LinkedIn blogs. Different formats, same struggle!

Handwriting: The Ancient Art We Love to Hate

Ah, handwriting—the educational world’s equivalent of the abacus. Interesting as a historical relic, but how practical is it today? In the digital age, we’re constantly questioning its relevance. Still, handwriting, much like an un-skippable YouTube ad, refuses to fade away.

3 Types of Hand-writers:

1. The Dysgraphia Warriors: Those who hate to write but have to (cue silent sobs).
2. The Cursive Crusaders: Who believe loops and swirls are the gateway to intelligence.
3. The Creative Scribblers: Who turn notes into artwork (and sometimes into unreadable hieroglyphics).

Cursive, in particular, has been debated hotter than pineapple on pizza. Some argue it’s crucial for cognitive development; others say it belongs in history museums alongside typewriters and floppy disks.

The Great Cursive Debate: To Swirl or Not to Swirl?

Pro-Cursive Arguments:

✅ Connects students to historical texts (because reading the Declaration of Independence in its original form is a daily necessity, right?)
✅ Faster than print for long-form writing (assuming your hand doesn’t cramp).
✅ Helps retain information—copying texts strengthens memory (because nothing helps internalize Shakespeare like writing it out 100 times).
✅ Legibility matters—handwritten essays mean fewer plagiarism issues (or so we hope).

Anti-Cursive Arguments:

❌ It’s obsolete—calligraphy 2.0.
❌ Writing needs to be functional, not fancy.
❌ Most students print faster than they write cursive.
❌ The future is digital—cursive won’t help in a world dominated by screens.
❌ We should prioritize keyboarding skills instead.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Should we abandon cursive and move entirely to typing? Not quite. It’s not a battle between pens and keyboards; it’s about balance.

Handwriting, like our ability to remember phone numbers before smartphones, is an essential cognitive skill. But let’s not make it the hill we die on. The real issue isn’t handwriting versus typing—it’s our dependency on technology. When the Wi-Fi goes down in an office, people suddenly remember how to talk to each other!

Let’s not throw away the pen just yet. Keep it close. After all, the pen is still mightier than the touchscreen.

About the Author:

Dr. Dawood Vaid is an educationist, mindset coach, and author with expertise in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and life skills. As a speaker and thought leader, he brings wit, wisdom, and pedagogy together—making learning both meaningful and memorable.