Should Cursive Writing Still Be Taught in Minnesota Schools

Well, here is a debate... to cursive write or not to cursive write.  There are some educators that are for and just as many that are against it.

The reasons that it has been deleted from many schools curriculum is because of these reasons - this is from the National Education Association. 

TIME CONSTRAINTS

Educators feel that more time should be spent on other things to learn.  Things like literacy, math and digital keyboarding are more important than learning to write in cursive.

OVERSTATED COGNITIVE BENEFITS

Educators say that learning to print instead of writing in cursive provides students that same benefit.

PRACTICAL IRRELEVANCE

Basically stating that no one needs this anymore, and legal documents generally use docusign anyway.

The reasons why some people have not quit teaching cursive and the reasons behind that school of thought:

COGNITIVE BRAIN DEVELPMENT

Learning to write in cursive helps with hand-eye coordination and motor skills.

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

Not only can students not write in cursive, they also cannot read in cursive.  The two go hand in hand.

FOCUS and PACE

Educators who are for the teaching of cursive state they it helps students to slow down, take pride in their work and also reduce screen time.

SPELLING AND DYSLEXIA SUPPORT

This might be the biggest reason to keep cursive writing in schools.  The flow of cursive writing can help to reduce the letter reversal for some students with dyslexia.

If you look back through time, cursive writing was much more stylish than it is now.  So, things develop and change. But the decision to completely take it out in favor of digital keyboard isn't maybe the best decision.

School districts have the option to teach cursive writing or not.

Do you feel that it should stay or not?

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