Should kids still learn cursive handwriting?

In this digital era, schools are spending less time teaching penmanship — a big mistake according to childhood developmental experts

Practicing cursive may strengthen connections between hand and brain, but some argue that penmanship has become an irrelevant skill.
(Image credit: CC BY: spiritinme)

With young Americans increasingly tapping out their thoughts on computer keyboards and smartphones, schools are placing less and less emphasis on teaching penmanship, reports The New York Times. Children used to get several years of instruction in cursive handwriting. Now many schools only teach it in the 3rd grade. "We're preparing our kids for the 21st century," says Jacqueline DeChiaro, the principal of Van Schaick Elementary School in Cohoes, N.Y., as quoted in the Times. "Is cursive really a 21st-century skill?" Well, is it?

No, kids just don't need cursive: The decline of penmanship isn't really a problem, says Jen Doll at The Village Voice. "In our modern day keyboard- and smartphone-focused lifestyles, we simply don't need it" any more, except for signing our names on credit card bills. So let cursive rest in peace, and embrace our evolution as a species. "We don't write on cave walls anymore, either, at least, the majority of us don't."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us