Why Curse Cursive? …And the Dangers of Not Teaching It
Cursive writing, once a cherished rite of passage for third graders, has been relegated to the margins of education in recent years. For generations, children eagerly sat with their dotted-lined paper, perfecting each loop and flourish with dreams of earning a sticker or a word of praise. Beyond the mechanics, cursive allowed for personal expression, with students adding their own flair when passing handwritten notes in the hallways or crafting heartfelt letters. Yet today, this art form—once associated with discipline, virtue, and character—has been overshadowed by a growing emphasis on keyboarding and rigid, test-focused curricula.
But should cursive make a comeback? The answer is a resounding yes. While the world grows increasingly dependent on technology, the benefits of cursive remain relevant and far-reaching. To remove it from the curriculum is to deprive students of its profound advantages for literacy, cognitive development, equity, and cultural connection.
Cursive Writing: A Tool for Enhanced Literacy
At its core, cursive writing is a powerful tool for building literacy. Research shows that learning cursive helps students gain a clearer understanding of the alphabet and how letters are formed. Unlike printed text, which can be fragmented into separate strokes and shapes, cursive connects letters fluidly. This continuous motion reinforces the idea of words as complete units, enabling students to grasp spelling and language patterns more effectively.
Studies confirm that children who learn cursive outperform their peers on reading and spelling tests. For example, the kinesthetic process of forming each letter in cursive activates memory and aids in the retention of information. This multisensory approach—combining movement, touch, and sight—makes cursive an especially effective tool for young learners developing foundational literacy skills.
Boosting Cognitive and Creative Development
The benefits of cursive extend beyond literacy. Writing in cursive engages both hemispheres of the brain, including regions associated with thinking, language, and memory. This bilateral engagement enhances cognitive functioning and helps students process information more deeply. In fact, research suggests that cursive writers often generate more ideas and articulate them more effectively than their non-cursive peers.
Consider the SAT essay: a study by the College Board found that students who wrote in cursive consistently scored higher than those who printed their responses. Why? The fluidity of cursive allows for faster writing, freeing up cognitive resources to focus on crafting arguments and organizing ideas rather than the physical act of forming letters. This efficiency is invaluable in high-pressure testing situations, where every second counts.
Moreover, cursive encourages creativity. The rhythmic motion of cursive writing fosters a sense of flow, helping students express themselves more confidently. Many cursive writers report feeling a stronger connection to their thoughts and ideas, as the act of writing becomes almost meditative. This connection is especially valuable in an era dominated by digital tools, which often encourage surface-level engagement rather than deep thinking.
Supporting Students with Disabilities
One of the most compelling arguments for teaching cursive is its impact on students with learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia. Dyslexic students often struggle to differentiate between similar-looking printed letters, such as b, d, p, and q. Cursive, with its distinct letterforms and continuous motion, reduces the likelihood of reversals and helps these students access text more effectively. For many dyslexic learners, cursive is not just a helpful tool—it’s a lifeline.
Educational equity is about meeting the needs of all students, and teaching cursive is a powerful way to level the playing field. By providing students with diverse tools for learning, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their unique challenges.
Bridging Generations and Preserving History
Beyond its academic and cognitive benefits, cursive serves as a bridge between generations. The ability to read and write in cursive allows students to communicate authentically with older relatives, many of whom rely on handwritten letters as a primary form of expression. A child who learns cursive can read a birthday card from a grandparent, decipher family recipes, or connect with handwritten stories passed down through generations.
Cursive also provides access to our cultural and historical heritage. Countless historical documents—ranging from the Declaration of Independence to the personal letters of Civil War soldiers—were written in cursive. By teaching students to read and write in this script, we empower them to engage with these primary sources in their original form, fostering a deeper appreciation for history. Imagine the richness of being able to read Mary Shelley’s handwritten Frankenstein manuscript or the personal diaries of suffragettes like Susan B. Anthony. Losing the ability to read cursive is, in many ways, losing a direct connection to our past.
A Practical Life Skill
In today’s world, the ability to write in cursive may seem quaint or outdated, but it remains a practical and essential skill. A signature, for instance, is a universal marker of identity. From signing legal documents to authorizing a check, the ability to create a unique and consistent signature is a fundamental part of adulthood. Without cursive, future generations may struggle to develop their own signatures, leaving them vulnerable to forgery or reliant on digital alternatives that lack personal authenticity.
Additionally, cursive fosters a sense of individuality and ownership. Unlike typing, which is uniform and impersonal, handwriting is inherently unique. The slant of a letter, the size of a loop, the pressure of the pen—all these elements combine to create a signature style that reflects the writer’s personality.
A Call to Action
To remove cursive from the curriculum is to deny students a powerful tool for literacy, creativity, and self-expression. It is to close the door on a vital link to our history and to diminish the practical skills that prepare students for adulthood. As educators, parents, and advocates, we must recognize the enduring value of cursive and fight to keep it in our schools.
Cursive is more than a nostalgic relic; it is a practical, cognitive, and cultural asset. By teaching cursive, we equip students with the tools to succeed academically, connect meaningfully with others, and preserve the rich tapestry of our collective heritage. We owe it to our students that the art of cursive writing remains a vibrant part of education—a timeless skill that shapes minds, bridges generations, and enriches lives.