I don't have a problem with children not learning cursive, but the idea that one couldn't interpret the J&J logo is pretty absurd. It's a very intelligible script.
That's probably because you can read English in cursive. It's hard to imagine what it might might look like without that knowledge. But try reading something written in cursive in a language you don't speak. Even with the clearest penmanship, it's very difficult. All the letter-forms are similar and context is really important for decoding it. Here's an example of something in Norwegian [1], written in a style of cursive quite similar to how I write English cursive. I can make out some letters and a few words with confidence, but it's mostly scribbles to me.
Even this Swedish text, with such perfect penmanship [2], is a bit challenging in spots. (I don't speak either language.)
Going back to Johnson & Johnson, that "ohn" sequence in the cursive "Johnson" could easily be confused with sequences like "iunr" or "lins" or "fins".
The only way you can learn to read that is probably by learning to write it. It relies on knowing that e.g. there's a sharp flick of the pen, and a very light line drawn, between the tail end of the "h" and the start of the "n". That's how we know it's the end of an "h" and the beginning of an "n", and not the middle of an "u" which would be drawn with a slightly darker, more curved line. Along with context hints, from the language and content.
Exactly this. The last time I used cursive was 3rd grade when I learned it. When I was in college, the admin were appalled that I couldn't read their handwriting. I'd have to take these cursive notes to other older adults to narrate for me. It turns out no one my age could read cursive, despite all of us being perfectly literate.
Even this Swedish text, with such perfect penmanship [2], is a bit challenging in spots. (I don't speak either language.)
Going back to Johnson & Johnson, that "ohn" sequence in the cursive "Johnson" could easily be confused with sequences like "iunr" or "lins" or "fins".
The only way you can learn to read that is probably by learning to write it. It relies on knowing that e.g. there's a sharp flick of the pen, and a very light line drawn, between the tail end of the "h" and the start of the "n". That's how we know it's the end of an "h" and the beginning of an "n", and not the middle of an "u" which would be drawn with a slightly darker, more curved line. Along with context hints, from the language and content.
[1] https://readcoop.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/unnamed-1.png
[2] https://i.imgur.com/S8QTFDp.jpg