Point-Counterpoint: Should cursive writing be included in school curriculums?

Yes – Evan Courtney:

Cursive is a traditional writing technique in which characters are connected together to make writing look graceful. As of 2025, there are 25 states that require cursive instruction in public schools. Though overlooked, we must consider the many benefits. Incorporating cursive back into school lessons raises cultural awareness, stimulates cognitive development, and improves literacy skills. Though it's considered obsolete by many, cursive is a vital tool that serves to strengthen the foundations of critical thinking and clear communication.

Studies have shown that continuous writing motions in cursive and stimulate neural pathways that connect to memory and creativity. For example, handwriting (including cursive) has been associated with improved spelling accuracy, better memory recall, and enhanced letter recognition compared to typing. Unlike typing, cursive requires the student to create the letter by hand, which helps reinforce their understanding of language structure and spelling. This way, many students who prefer cursive over typing avoid making spelling and grammatical errors. Especially for students struggling with dyslexia or letter confusion, the connected flow of cursive can improve recognition and reduce mistakes. Besides its cognitive benefits and learning support applications, cursive serves as a tool for academic analysis. In social studies classes, high school students are expected to analyze primary sources, which are typically written in cursive. Without the ability to read them, students lose access to key information and don't gain a greater understanding of them in contrast to students who understand cursive.

Beyond the classroom, cursive remains essential for signing legal documents, checks, and applications. By requiring them to graduate with some skill in cursive, students gain not only a practical life skill but also a deeper appreciation for written communication, as it is a necessity to have as an adult.

No – Scout Shipley:

Cursive shouldn't be taught at the school. Cursive has been taught in schools for over a century and a half, but in the past 15 years, the presence of cursive writing in school curricula has declined drastically.

While cursive is a charming and valuable skill, it isn't a necessary one. It is effectively, zero percent of jobs require cursive as a necessary skill. While the ability to read cursive might be useful in some specialized professions, writing in cursive is not a requirement for any major occupation today. The argument is simple: cursive should not be taught in schools because it no longer contributes to students' futures.

Moreover, students are uninterested in learning cursive. With the lack of excitement around the topic, lessons don't go very well. Educators could use that time to teach more in-demand skills such as digital literacy.

In addition, cursive doesn't have many modern uses in the classroom setting. As school becomes more reliant on technology, the majority of students and teachers use computers to complete and assign work, as it is easier for classes and especially for teachers to grade assignments. Because of this, adding cursive instruction would only increase stress for both students and teachers.

Another issue of this would be the mass and constant printing of paper to teach the cursive curriculum. As the high school goes green and cuts down on paper consumption, it makes little sense to reintroduce a curriculum that would increase waste. It is important to remember that the looming issue of global warming is getting more dire as the days go by, and the incorporation of cursive in schools' curricula would only exacerbate the problem.

In conclusion, yes, cursive is a beautiful tradition that deserves recognition, but it should not be taught in school because it is ineffective and unproductive in the world of rapidly advancing technology.