One skill I have always considered basic, but one that many young people no longer know, is cursive writing. For generations, students learned cursive alongside reading, spelling, and basic mathematics. Today, however, many schools no longer include it in their curriculum.
As an older teacher, I admit that I find this disappointing. I believe students should learn how to write and read cursive. They do not need flawless penmanship, but they should be able to sign their names, read handwritten notes, and understand historical documents written in cursive. Handwriting carries a personal touch; each curve and stroke reveals something unique about the writer that typed words can never fully capture. A handwritten letter, recipe, or journal entry preserves not only someone’s words but also a small piece of the person who wrote them.
On the other hand, I understand why many schools stopped teaching it. As states added more academic standards, teachers were expected to cover an increasing amount of material within the same limited school year. Something had to be removed, and cursive writing was no longer considered essential. Teachers already struggle to balance reading, writing, grammar, mathematics, science, social studies, technology, and testing requirements. Adding one more expectation to an already crowded schedule is not as simple as it sounds.
Still, I do not believe cursive needs to disappear completely. Schools could introduce it through short lessons in the elementary grades and continue reinforcing it through meaningful activities. Students might practice by writing letters, keeping journals, signing their work, or reading copies of historical documents. It would not need to take over the school day or replace more important instruction.
Technology has changed how we communicate, but that does not make every traditional skill unnecessary. Typing and handwriting can exist together. Students should be prepared for the digital world, but they should also be able to pick up a pen and confidently write their own names.
Perhaps the answer is not to return to hours of repetitive handwriting drills. Instead, we could teach cursive as a practical life skill, one worth preserving, even in a world of keyboards and touchscreens.
What do you think? Should cursive writing still be taught in our schools?