Should Cursive Writing Be Taught In School?

Thesis: Cursive writing should be taught in school because children today only know how to hashtag and text. Very few actually know how to write in cursive. Learning cursive will enhance students’ spelling ability and reading skills. It will also help students with learning disabilities.

Thomas Jefferson said it best in 1796, when he said, “Go on doing with your pen what is other times done with the sword.” This old adage has held true for hundreds of years. But what type of penmanship was Jefferson referring to? Cursive, of course. Since the beginning of time, people have communicated by some form of written language. From drawing pictures on the walls to using technology to text or by using a keyboard. Until recently, cursive writing has been an integral part of this written form of communication. Cursive is a style of writing in which all the letters in a word are connected. It's also known as script or longhand. Cursive comes from the past participle of the Latin word currere, which means "to run." (Webster’s Dictionary)

Many believe that the inclusion of cursive writing into the Core Curriculum will cause nothing but confusion and undermine the standards in place. (Polikoff) Proponents of printing stress that there is little to be gained from teaching cursive writing. However, studies regarding the benefits of cursive writing suggest otherwise. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Dr. Laura Dineheart explains that motor functions are increased with cursive writing. Along with increased motor function comes better academic achievement and retention of the information being written. Moreover, she believes that if children learn how to write cursive proficiently, then the child will be a better