Cursive Comeback

Do you know how to write in cursive? Can you read it? Many young people answer no to both questions. That’s why a growing number of states have started to make cursive instruction mandatory × mandatory required by rule or law (adjective) .

This was a surprise to Andy Yatsko. “I thought cursive was old-timey,” the Pennsylvania fifth grader told TIME for Kids. Last February, his state’s governor, Josh Shapiro, signed a bill to require elementary schools to teach cursive. The law is in effect this school year.

Andy says he feels “pretty much okay” with the new requirement, but he expects mixed reactions from classmates and friends. No matter your opinion, cursive is making a comeback.

Why Cursive?

Cursive used to be commonly taught in schools in the United States, but about 15 years ago, new education standards led many schools to stop teaching it. Now, at least 25 states have passed laws to bring cursive back.

Pennsylvania lawmaker Dane Watro wrote his state’s new handwriting law. “Cursive is more than handwriting. It’s a bridge,” he said in a statement. “It connects us to our history, strengthens learning, and deepens our understanding of the world.”

Many people agree. Supporters say cursive handwriting improves memory, spelling, and reading skills. They also say kids need to know cursive to read historical documents (see “Making History”).

Others argue that modern technology makes learning cursive less important. Morgan Polikoff is a professor at the University of Southern California. He studies trends in education. “When I think of virtually × virtually nearly (adjective) everyone that I know,” he says, “cursive is not a part of our daily life.”

Still, Shawn Datchuk sees value in putting pen to paper and spending less time on screens. He’s a professor of special education at the University of Iowa and an expert on handwriting instruction. In our digital age, he says, handwriting provides a more human connection. “Handwriting is unique to everybody,” he says. “With typing, everybody’s T looks the same.”

Join the Club

Sherisse Kenerson runs the Cursive Club at Holmes Middle School, in Alexandria, Virginia—a state that requires cursive instruction in elementary school. Twice a week, a handful of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders show up for Kenerson’s after-school club to practice penmanship × penmanship handwriting (noun) . “They’re excited,” Kenerson says. “It’s a special student that wants to do something different.”

STEADY HAND Sherisse Kenerson assists a member of Holmes Middle School’s Cursive Club in October.

For kids new to cursive, Kenerson has some advice. “In order to get great at it, you have to practice,” she says. “Just like walking. We all crawled. We all did the Frankenstein walk. We fell, we got back up, we tried again. And it’s going to be the same thing with cursive. It’s going to look really rugged and rough initially, but the more you practice, it’ll look really smooth.”

REPEAT AFTER ME A Cursive Club member shows off her hard work.

Andy in Pennsylvania is willing to try. “I do prefer writing in print,” he admits. He suspects that he still will as an adult. “Unless I become the governor,” Andy jokes. “Then I’ll have to do cursive.”

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Students learning cursive see their work improve with practice, Kenerson says.

Making History

This year, America is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its independence. That means it has been 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in U.S. history. And it’s written in cursive. John Hancock was the first to add his signature to the document. Today, a person asking for your John Hancock is asking you to sign your name in cursive.