By JOHN JARPE, Supt. Brandywine Community Schools

One of life’s simple pleasures this time of year is getting the mail at home after work and finding Christmas cards in the mailbox.

I read recently that many people no longer send cards in the mail. They use e-cards or send holiday greetings over social networks online.

I think that’s a real shame.

To me, it’s just more fun to come home and open an envelope that somebody took the time and effort to put in the mail and send to our house.

My mother hand-wrote, in cursive, a Christmas card of several paragraphs to many people every year.  My wife and I make it easier on ourselves by sending a family form letter and picture card. Hopefully, people appreciate that more than a Facebook message or e-card.

There’s a debate in our schools going on now about whether or not to keep teaching kids cursive handwriting. Some argue that most people print in manuscript when they put pen to paper. Others point out that more and more communication is made through keyboards or touch-screens, so the time spent teaching cursive writing could be used more productively.

A strong point in favor of teaching at least the basics of handwriting is that students need to know how to read words written in cursive. To me, this argument makes the most sense.

Sometime, some day, our young adults of tomorrow will come home from work, check the mail, and find a Christmas card written in longhand. They better know how to read it.  Enjoy the cards you give and receive this season!