Cursive Writing Being Pushed Aside

MYFOX NATIONAL - Is cursive writing a thing of the past or the way of the future? Some schools might be writing off the basics of cursive writing.

Nine-year-old Breanna Grace has mastered cursive, but for many kids growing up in a world dominated by computers and e-mail, handwriting is a dying art -- even in schools.

High school teacher Olga Kokino says, "I'm not sure that it carries that much weight anymore. I think when we did not have the alternative of a computer, handwriting was first and foremost the way people communicated."

Third grad teacher Shelly Fredman says, "It's a really personal thing with me. I find it easier, and though God knows how many years I've been teaching, I've found that once a kid embraces this, they find it easier too."

Some educators argue that with the rigorous demands of No Child Left Behind, there isn't time to teach cursive. But some experts believe not learning cursive handwriting can hurt kids on tests like the SATs.

Bart Baggett, a handwriting expert, adds, "The statistics regarding standardized testing indicate that people that write cursive, write more legible, often make higher scores. Part of that reason is that people have to grade them and the simple truth is, if you can't read the answer, you can't give a student full credit."

And others admit to a more emotional tie. Kokino says, "Those of us who have received handwritten thank you notes, or love letters if you will, I think for us, those are very meaningful cherished mementos and souvenirs."

Vogel says, "Most states don't mandate cursive as part of the curriculum, but encourage teachers and districts to fit it in to their lesson plans. One study found penmanship, once taught for close to an hour a day, now takes up less than fifteen minutes of daily class time ... suggesting the writing is already on the wall."