Most school districts in Texas don’t currently teach cursive writing. But that’s about to change.
This fall, Texas public school second-graders will start learning the penmanship style, once abandoned by many classrooms, according to reports.
Sadly, cursive writing is a lost art, with many states no longer requiring it to be taught to students. But things may be changing because American schools are slowly reintroducing cursive instruction.
In Texas, under the new standards which the State Board of Education adopted in 2017, students should know how to “write complete words, thoughts and answers legibly in cursive” in third grade.
At least a dozen other states have enacted similar mandates, including Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and California, WTTW reported.
But are the connections, curlicues and flourishes most of us grew up with still relevant?
It may well be so.
Why cursive writing is good
According to science, the experience of learning cursive writing can help students in more ways than being able to pen a pretty letter.
1. Good for your brain
By engaging both the right and left hemispheres of the brain, cursive writing can actually aid in reading comprehension, idea generation, spelling, brain development and memory.
2. Can help with dyslexia
Some studies also also suggest learning cursive can help students who suffer from forms of dyslexia, a disorder in which people have difficulty reading and writing words.
3. Bridges generations
Knowing cursive can help you unlock a wealth of historical knowledge and connect with past generations.
If you never got the chance to learn cursive writing, you could have trouble doing things like reading a birthday note from Grandma or deciphering the words John Hancock signed his name under on the Declaration of Independence.
“Cursive writing is a long-held cultural tradition in this country and should continue to be taught,” says Jimmy Bryant, director of archives and special collections at the University of Central Arkansas; “not just for the sake of tradition, but also to preserve the history of our nation.”
Do you think kids should be learning cursive?
