German students can no longer write properly. At least, that’s what a recent survey of German teachers suggests. Nearly nine in ten educators say that students’ handwriting has become worse in recent years. Or in other words: More and more students have a real Sauklaue.
The study cites ongoing digitalization and excessive media consumption as the main reasons. After all, constantly swiping up to see the next TikTok video doesn’t really help strengthen your fine motor skills. When students hand in their exams, teachers read them in a state of frustration and sigh: Das kann kein Schwein lesen (“no pig can read this”), which is a commonly used expression to comment on a messy handwriting. It’s probably also the link to how the term Sauklaue eventually came into existence.
In the end, many students tend to see writing by hand as an outdated cultural technique. Just like pottery or glassblowing. Or looking outside the window instead of checking the weather app.
References:
https://www.schreibmotorik-institut.com/images/STEP_Studie_2019.pdf
