Lawmaker pushes bill to require cursive writing in schools

In the current technology age, an Indiana lawmaker is trying to preserve an old-fashioned way of communication.

The Associated Press reported that the Indiana Senate's education committee is discussing a bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Jean Leising that would require Indiana schools to teach cursive writing.

In 2011, the state's Department of Education discontinued the cursive writing requirement in the school curriculum.

"I have a blackberry, an iPad, a laptop, and I still have a yellow notepad on my desk," Leising told CBS News. "And sometimes I am scribbling a note while I'm on one of the others at the same time. And I expect that when I hand that yellow note to someone that they are, in fact, going to be able to read it, because I do write legibly. I think that it's a problem that we're gonna create."

According to the AP, the Indiana Senate endorsed comparable legislation in 2012, but it didn't go far in the House.

[Grizzlyironbear]

Thank you! As a father of two, I would hope that the personal pride we took in ourselves to learn how to write in cursive, carries on in this country. These children of today, thinking that shorthand typing and lack of cursive writing is acceptable...is just plain ignorance. They honestly believe that being forced to spell and write correctly is a burden. The written language is already taking a mortal blow. Don't let this fundamental part of writing go to the wayside as well. Ensure that the cursive writ, as well as proper English and spelling continue to be taught and required in all schools and colleges!!

[A_Canadian_Opinion]

Just depends on how far behind the US is willing to be. Being ignorant, dumb and unsophisticated should be a basic freedom. The US only teaches US history in schools, so why not dumb-down the other subjects too?

But, what would be wrong with teaching cursive writing on a touch or pen sensitive screen? That might kill two birds with one stone.

Salutes to California!

[jbotmr]

It's something that needs to be learned and passed on. A few years down the road and the earth is a devestated ruin and in ashes, it may be the only way people can communicate other than speech or hand printing.

[JaggidEdje]

What a stupid waste of lawmaker's time. In this day and age there is no need to know cursive, it is as pointless as learning Calligraphy. What's next, requiring we teach that too?

[ttipbc]

So I

[ttipbc]

So I guess if you have to write anything, or sign your name to anything, you'd just as soon do it with big, block letters that make it look like you just might have graduated first grade?

[Lyndia2]

Penmanship is a thing of the past. It is pitiful to see high school children that are still printing because they have not learned to write. I will say, THAT IS THE SCHOOLS FAULT. There are not many things that I blame on the schools because I believe in parental responsibility, but this is certainly the fault of the curriculum developers.

[Gorgor-Gor]

F*** S*** D*** M***** F*****