Cursive – To Teach or Not To Teach

What are your thoughts about teaching cursive handwriting in elementary school?  How about memorization of multiplication facts?  Cursive is no longer required.  At one time, cursive was taught in third through fifth grades, but not anymore.  The state of North Carolina has decided it is important enough to do something about it.  Also, because students are using calculators more and more, they are very concerned about children not learning their multiplication facts in elementary school.

The state House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation recently to require students to learn both in elementary schools throughout North Carolina.  Known as the "Back to Basics" bill, 107 voted yes, with no dissenters.  The bill goes to the state Senate next and, if approved, will be implemented in the 2013-2014 school year.

Disappointment was expressed when the Common Core State Standards failed to address cursive handwriting at all.  While some believe that with today's technology, there is little need to be able to write cursive, others strongly disagree.  The main criticism I have read here and in other articles is the need to be able to read historic documents.  Without the ability to read cursive, they may as well be written in another language.  Students would no longer be able to read the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or letters from Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson.

California, Georgia, Idaho and Massachusetts feel the same way, as they are all resinstituting cursive as a requirement in their schools.

I remember feeling all grown up when I learned how to write cursive in elementary school.  Since it is a school-based decision, some students here in Florida still learn how.  My granddaughter was very excited since she was beginning to learn cursive today.  I believe it is still a very important skill to learn, but can also understand that teachers have so many things to fit into their days that it seems like something has to go.  Unfortunately, things like cursive are the first to be cut.



http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/04/2801884/nc-house-passes-cursive-handwriting.html