D'Nealian

Building on his experience as a primary school teacher, Thurber aimed to make the transition from print writing to cursive easier for learners.

[3][6] In theory, it is easier for children to learn and acquire basic handwriting skills using D'Nealian than traditional cursive methods.

[3] It has been claimed that close to 90% of US schoolchildren who follow the traditional print-then-cursive route to handwriting are taught either the Zaner-Bloser or the D'Nealian alphabet.

At times, some school districts have abruptly changed their teaching of handwriting, possibly causing difficulties for students who must then adapt to a different style.

He also states that D'Nealian creates practical problems for teachers (who must themselves learn the system and defend it to parents) and that it requires many young children to unlearn writing forms that they have already developed before formal instruction.