Controversy and conversation revolves around the topic of teaching students cursive. Join the discussion as we explore the positives and negatives and what’s unique about Catholic school’s approach.
Cursive as Art or Antiquity?
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I taught ESOL high school for 15 years (public school.) I quickly realized that my students could not read my hand-written comments in cursive. At the very least, I felt that they needed to have a signature to use on official documents, such as applications, driver’s licenses, etc. Many of their fathers actually had signatures with many flourishes. I encouraged them to investigate those in particular. Then, I shared cursive worksheets and had the students create a signature. A number of these students had not been in school since 2nd grade, but came to me for 10th or 11th grade, so there was a lot more going on than just “handwriting.” Technology plus Common Core together seem to have killed off cursive. I never taught in a grade where cursive was a component of my curriculum, but I do believe there is a place for it and that it shouldn’t be lost. (In my extended post-retirement career, I am in Catholic Pre-K. So once again, not in my curriculum.) I applaud the Bishops who want to retain it.