Should schools still be teaching cursive?
By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
Eldra Avery & Dustin Ellis: contrasting views on cursive
Should fancy loops and flowing letters of cursive still be taught to students? Is cursive writing an obsolete skill no longer relevant in today’s technological society?
The new Common Core State Standards for English do not require cursive. However, under the new standards, states are allowed to teach cursive if they choose, and California still does. Some states, like Georgia, are considering abandoning longhand lessons altogether, since cursive is not on standardized tests.
This issue is being hotly debated in teacher lunchrooms around the state. We asked two CTA members to weigh in. Here’s what they have to say.
Cursive connects us to our past and our future
By Eldra Avery
We create our own culture. If we deem a skill irrelevant, than we eliminate that skill. If we believe that a skill is worthy, then we will work to reinforce that skill. Legible penmanship is a worthy skill, not only as a communication tool, but as a portion of our individual identity.
As opposed to keyboarding, handwriting is a reflection of our humanity and connects us to our past and