Most people who attended third grade before 2010 learned cursive. 

Learning cursive used to be part of the United State’s core curriculum, meaning schools needed to teach cursive. After the technological boom around 2010, the US removed cursive from the curriculum. Most people learn cursive from third grade to fourth grade; then, the writing style disappeared from classrooms.          

I’m here to say there is no reason to learn cursive, much less bring it back. When cursive formed in the 17th and 18th centuries, people did not have computers, phones or any typing device—just paper and some ink. Cursive became a widespread talent because of its quick nature; those in a rush could jot something down fast without lifting the pen even once for one word (except to dot their i’s and j’s). When you go to your classes, do you see everybody with paper and pen writing down notes?  

What’s the point in learning a skill most will never use?

 Learning cursive at such an early age is detrimental to anything else you need to learn during that time. Students between 8 and 10 are experiencing a delicate time, so trying to learn two ways to write simultaneously puts a lot of unnecessary stress on kids who are not even double digits. Is writing a few seconds faster worth it? Instead of taking a cursive class, they could go over sight words, practice vocabulary or learn how to write legibly, not worrying about the difference between a cursive n and an m. 

 Speaking of which, some people tend to argue that cursive writing helps developmentally disabled students. Those with poor motor skills get to practice their writing more fluidly, not worrying about picking up the pen and setting it back down. If this is true, why not let cursive be a thing you save for those who need it?  

Disabled students already learn differently from their peers. There is also the chance that cursive writing would harm instead of help, but that depends on the student. It’s too unpredictable to argue this point since every child is different.

 Overall, I  see a few instances where cursive could potentially be useful, but other than refining motor skills are looking pretty, its irrelevant. 

Calling cursive a “skill” undermines actual skills such as playing piano in its entirety. Schools should spend that time refining other kills that need to be learned at that age instead of wasting it on a script that most people forget in a year.