TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – While some believe that cursive writing is essential for young scholars, others argue that it is an outdated skill that should be left in the past.
A Cocoa Beach beachgoer, Shawna Noyes, expressed her belief that cursive writing is very important, stating, “I think that the kids need to learn it. They need to know how to read it.”
Another beachgoer, Kylan Morgan, shared his experience, saying, “I learned cursive in the third through fifth grade, and I still use it now. I think it just looks better on checks and things like that.”
State Rep. Toby Overdorf emphasized the significance of cursive writing, describing it as “a master key to our past, a rocket boost for sharp lines, and a ticket to adult independence.”
House Bill 921 passed its final reading in the House on Wednesday, which mandates that all public schools provide cursive writing instruction to students in grades 2 – 5.
The Lighthouse Paper Company in Melbourne hosted over 20 cursive writing workshops last year for local private schools and homeschools.
Antonette Willemse, a cursive writing teacher at Lighthouse Paper Co., explained that cursive writing can help children develop handwriting-eye coordination, concentration, and self-discipline.
The owners of the company have noticed an increase in interest in their workshops, even from public schools, and they believe it is better to start developing cursive writing skills early.
Suada Kadiric from Lighthouse Paper Co. remarked, “The older you get, the harder it is to retain and build some of those skills. When they are young, they’re like sponges. They soak it in, and it will excite them, actually.”
HB 921 requires students to demonstrate proficiency in cursive reading and writing by the end of fifth grade. A similar version of the bill has also been filed in the Senate.
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