Cursive Writing Returns in California Elementary Schools

With the spread of computers in the United States, cursive writing is almost obsolete. However, a growing number of states are working to restart education, such as California making it mandatory to teach cursive in elementary schools starting this year. The generation that learned how to write by operating terminals may become obsolete in the future. In the photo, a child practices cursive at a school in Fullerton, California. Picture taken on the 23rd (2024 Reuters/Mike Blake)

[フラートン（米カリフォルニア州）　２７日　ロイター] – With the spread of computers in the United States, cursive writing has almost disappeared. However, a growing number of states are working to restart education, such as California making it mandatory to teach cursive in elementary schools starting this year. The generation that learned how to write by operating terminals may become obsolete in the future.

In California, former elementary school teacher Sharon Quirk-Silva presented a bill to the California legislature that would make it compulsory to learn cursive, and the bill was enacted in October last year. It required providing cursive instruction to 2.6 million elementary school students, equivalent to grades 1 to 6 (roughly 6 to 12 years old), and introducing cursive classes to “appropriate” grades (generally 3rd grade and above) to make that.

Experts say that learning cursive has benefits such as developing cognitive abilities, improving reading comprehension and manual dexterity. Others say it is important to teach children how to read historical documents and family letters from generations ago.

Pamela Keller, a fourth- through sixth-grade teacher at Orangethorpe Elementary School in Fullerton, about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, was teaching cursive even before the law took effect on January 1.

Some students complain that it’s hard, but Keller says, “When I explain to them that this will make them smarter and help them make brain connections that will help them get to the next level, they want be smarter.” which motivates me, because the students have a desire to learn.”

During her cursed class this week, Keller gave her students some gentle advice. Say something like, “Let’s relax a little and be gentle. I have an eraser, so don’t worry. That ring looks great. I like it.”

According to Keller, one student recently looked at an image of the 1787 United States Constitution in the school library and said, “It’s cursed!” with an animated look on his face.

Some students say that cursive is difficult, especially Z, but they still enjoy cursive.

Sophie Guardia (9) who is in 4th grade, said with a twinkle in her eye, “Learning new letters is fun, and I think it’s a nicer way to write.”

In Nancy Kercher’s third-grade class, students say things like “It’s fun,” “It’s beautiful,” “I can now read my mother’s handwriting,” and “It’s a secret.”

Cursive writing has declined with the rise of computer keyboards and tablets. It was also excluded from the “National Common Core Learning Standards” published in 2010 to prepare students for university entrance.

“We’re no longer teaching kids how to write by hand at all,” says Kathleen Wright, founder of the Handwriting Collective, a non-profit organization that promotes handwriting instruction.

However, cursive writing is making a comeback. California is the 22nd state to require cursive writing since 2014, and the 14th to enact a cursive instruction bill, said Lauren Gendil of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Already this year, five states have introduced cursing bills in their legislatures.

Leslie Zoroya, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Education’s Language Education Leadership Project, said research shows that learning cursive promotes several skills that work together to improve early childhood development. Point out the benefits.

“Using cursive letters instead of block letters uses a different neural network and creates those pathways in the brain. It also helps reinforce knowledge of how letters are formed. “At the same time, you you become aware of the pronunciation of that letter and its connection with the next letter.”

Quirk-Silva was inspired to introduce the bill after meeting with former Gov. Jerry Brown, Jesuit, in 2016. When Mr. Brown that Ms. Silva, who had just been reappointed as a teacher, immediately told her that the curse should be restored.

Strictly speaking, cursive writing was not entirely forgotten. The state of California had a learning objective for cursing. However, Quirk-Silva said the training was poor and inconsistent.

“The goal of this law is for students to be able to read and write in cursive by the end of sixth grade,” he said.

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Daniel Trotta is a US National Affairs reporter, covering water/fire/drought, race, guns, LGBTQ+ issues and breaking news in America. Previously based in New York, and now in California, Trotta has covered major US news stories such as the killing of Trayvon Martin, the mass shooting of 20 first graders at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and natural disasters including Superstorm Sandy. In 2017 he was awarded the NLGJA award for excellence in transgender treatment. He was previously posted in Cuba, Spain, Mexico and Nicaragua, covering global stories such as the normalization of Cuban-US relations and the Madrid train bombing by Islamic radicals.

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