Is cursive on its way to return to the USA?

[txomsy]

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/10/20/gavin-newsom-signs-law-requiring-teaching-cursive-writing-schools/71243813007/

 

The subject says it all. What is your take on this?

[Misfit]

Well, since I write most often in cursive, I’m glad to see this. 

[TSherbs]

The connected writing requirement is less than a full sentence in an education bill that is multiple pages. I found more significant the number of "arts" requirements, some of which will incur much more costs (and perhaps time) than connected writing instruction. My wife is an elementary school teacher, and she teaches cursive, despite not being required to do so. She doesn't have to spend much time on it to give kids a start and some practice. The point isn't to get them to commit to it for life (nor to require that they use it for school work). The point is simply to introduce an option and get them literate with it. Connected writing has no intrinsic advantage over printing, and no learning benefit over printing. But some persons would likely prefer it personally later on, and being able to read it is useful in some jobs/professions. 

[TSherbs]

This is the second thread currently open on the topic of this bill.

[inkstainedruth]

Some friends of ours in the next county were REALLY happy that their school district still taught cursive, so their kids could learn it (although the mother ranted to no end about "the new math" and how "they BROKE math!" ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Doc Dan]

I'm actually surprised and happy that California made this move. It is still the law in a number of states that they must teach cursive. Mississippi is number one in reading scores in the nation for 4th and 5th graders and they require cursive to be taught.