The new American educational curriculum called the Common Core State Standards Initiative is being discussed in the news in part because cursive writing is no longer going to be required instruction. Handwriting instruction has been waning and many states have already chosen not to require it. A national chance in teaching strategies in the US will pretty much guarantee that the few remaining states teaching it, will abandon it as well.
I’m at a loss what to say. So much more is gained in learning penmanship beyond merely the skill to read and write the characters: motor skills, brain pathways, patience and so much more…
I won’t rant here, but there’s plenty of other people who have said it:
- Killing Cursive is Killing History (via The Huffington Post)
- Is Cursive’s Day in the Classroom Done? (via USA Today)
- Video: Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger: Campaign for Cursive (via Stephen Colbert)
Some links from the graphics (couldn’t find the Washington Post article):
- School Debate Cursive Handwriting Instruction (via Huffington Post)
- Core Standards In the States (via Core Standards)
- Can You Read This? It’s Cursive (via NYTimes)
- Is Cursive Writing Dead (via CBS News)
- The Importance of Teaching Handwriting in the 21st Century (via Zaner Bloser)
(graphic via Montessorium)