What's happened
New Jersey has mandated cursive writing for grades 3-5 starting next fall, reversing a 2010 removal. The law aims to improve literacy, motor skills, and historical understanding, aligning with similar moves in other states. The change reflects a renewed emphasis on traditional handwriting skills in education.
What's behind the headline?
Cursive's revival signals a shift in educational priorities, emphasizing the importance of fine motor skills and historical literacy. While digital literacy dominates, proponents argue that cursive enhances neural pathways linked to literacy and memory. The move may also serve cultural and historical preservation, especially as many Americans cannot read founding documents without cursive. However, critics question whether this shift will significantly impact modern skills or distract from digital competencies. The legislation's success depends on implementation and whether schools allocate sufficient time for handwriting practice amidst standardized testing pressures. Overall, this trend underscores a broader debate about balancing traditional skills with technological demands, with New Jersey positioning itself as a leader in this cultural and educational revival.
What the papers say
The New York Times highlights that most developed countries still teach cursive, contrasting with the US's decline since 2010. Sarah Maslin Nir notes that proponents link handwriting to better retention and reading historical texts, emphasizing the importance of cursive for understanding America's founding documents. David Propper from the NY Post reports that New Jersey's legislation is part of a broader movement, with Governor Murphy connecting cursive to national history and identity. The articles collectively suggest a growing recognition of handwriting's educational and cultural value, despite the digital age's dominance.
How we got here
The removal of cursive from curricula began in 2010 with the adoption of Common Core standards, which de-emphasized handwriting. Proponents argue cursive aids in literacy, motor skills, and understanding historical documents, prompting recent legislative efforts to bring it back, especially in New Jersey and other states.
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