When your parents were growing up, learning to write in cursive was almost as common as learning to read or add. Though many schools stopped teaching cursive over the years, it’s making a comeback in some states. Starting this school year in Texas, second-graders are being taught the flowing form of handwriting, also known as script. By the time they reach fifth grade, students will be expected to have mastered writing in cursive.
Many people say reading and writing in cursive are important skills. They point out that kids who don’t learn cursive won’t be able to read historical documents like the U.S. Constitution or sign their names.
But others argue that teachers shouldn’t spend valuable class time on cursive, since students will hardly use it when they grow up. Instead, they say, teachers should focus on core subjects like math and science and teach students to type on a keyboard or to code.
