Indiana has joined a host of other states in trying to save cursive writing by making sure schools keep handwriting a part of classroom mandates, despite the increasing push to focus on computer and keyboarding skills.
In a digital age, it’s more likely keyboarding will help students succeed in careers and the classroom. But what are we losing if students drop the age-old skill of penmanship?
Some say the interpretation of historical documents, for one. Others say creativity, intelligence and grace are lost when our children stick to printing letters instead of looping those into a cursive script.
“Modern research indicates that more areas of the human brain are engaged when children use cursive handwriting than when they keyboard,” said Linden Bateman, a state representative from Idaho.
The cursive standards were dropped when Common Core State Standards, a set of preferred K-12 course offerings for public schools, was instituted across the nation. In the world of education, where classroom time is limited and performance stakes are high, optional offerings, such as cursive, tend to get sidelined in favor of what’s required.
Arguments on both sides of the issue are valid and worthy of consideration and instruction. But, in practicality, we don’t see how replacing cursive with keyboarding skills can work to the advantage of students.
Obviously, students will need to be able to keyboard, but they’ll also need to know how to print and write in a cursive format.
Students must be prepared to communicate in a digital world, but they must be well-versed in a variety of skills, including legible penmanship. Communication is multifaceted and likely won’t ever be limited entirely to the keyboard.
The only way to ensure that cursive remains in schools is to take the approach Indiana has to protect handwriting while, at the same time, exploring and teaching in the technological realm.
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