In not teaching young children to write, other than just printing the letters, could it be that more than just the handwriting skill is lost, as was found in the memory test, where the benefit of taking notes by hand improved memory retention. There is also Hand-eye coordination, where the eye guides the hand, the practice gained in handwriting improves this coordination, whether printing and typing replaces handwriting in Hand-eye coordination training seems to be an unanswered question. However, it does appear learning to print and type will eventually replace learning to write in all schools in the long term.
Thanks to everyone for your replies and your thoughts.
A few selected comments interest me...
not teaching young children to write
How do you figure that children are not or will not be learning how to write?
The written language encompass all the different accepted styles and serves the purpose of communication.
the benefit of taking notes by hand improved memory retention
Writing out concepts gives me retention but that is because I have been conditioned to that result over time. If I was not conditioned to memorize by writing, some other condition would be used. I still know people that can't read or write but they do have great memories. If the memory retention studies were conducted without bias, they might find different results.
Real world observation indicates there is no association between memory retention and written language. There is however, observations of intelligence level to written language comprehension.
Hand-eye coordination, where the eye guides the hand
To associate any activity such as coordination depends on the practice involved. Cursive writing and printing both require development of the same coordination. Such coordination and skill begins the moment someone picks up a pencil and begins to draw a line with determination. Typing requires a different coordination, the ability to place a finger on a key and press in the sequence desired. Its all hand-eye coordination.
learning to print and type will eventually replace learning to write
Just like learning to talk replaced grunting and pointing.
What is NOT being replaced is the act of teaching communication to the masses by instituting standards all can understand.
I see it as an advancement to understanding. You might see it as a loss of artistic expression. Both views are valid.
The thing about schools is that they try to get everyone on the same page. If you look at the world around you right now, most of it is printed. Teaching children cursive writing is out-dated considering the world they will grow into. How many practical applications require cursive language skills? How many require printing language skills? How many books are written in cursive?
How many books are printed. I have seen typeset and fonts that are cursive, the technology to print in cursive is available, why are most printed materials not cursive?
The majority of the population reads print.