Education Most college students print as cursive writing starts to disappear on Oregon campuses Updated: Oct. 29, 2010, 12:55 a.m. | Published: Oct. 27, 2010, 11:55 p.m.

Cursive italic is a joined form of printing that doesn't require students to learn new letter shapes. Also, the letter slope is the same for both basic italic (printing) and cursive italic.

But when the invention of the printing press threatened to make hand-written texts obsolete, Italians revolted by creating "Italic cursive." And for centuries on, elegant writing proved to be a ...

Their delicate cursive reminded Anna of the days people slowly put pen to paper instead of racing over computer keys. "There are no 'smh's' or 'omg's' or 'lols' it's full sentences.

NPR's Robert Siegel visits Harford Day School in Bel Air, Md., where first and second graders are learning the intricate art of cursive writing.

Jan. 24, 2011 -- The handwriting may be on the wall for cursive. At least that's what some people fear as schools across the country continue to drop cursive handwriting from their curricula.