Texas public schools are going old-school starting this fall. Schools haven’t been required to teach cursive writing in years, but the subject will be re-introduced in elementary schools in the 2019-2020 school year.
Beginning in September, all second grade students will be required to learn how to write letters of the alphabet in cursive. By fifth grade, students must know how to write legibly in cursive and complete assignments.
“I think it is great,” said Laura Hunt, a customer who was buying a card at Hallmark. “And they finally realized, that yes, they need to bring it back.”
Hunt says she’ll be signing the card she just bought in cursive. It’s how she signs almost everything.
“Every single card, every single document, every single check,” said Hunt. “I will definitely be signing in cursive.”
The State Board of Education changed the requirements in 2017, and as they go into effect next school year, many like Hunt feel it’s necessary for a school’s curriculum.
“Especially when writing a check, documents,” said Hunt, “writing in print, anybody can forge a print name.”
But writing in cursive comes as a challenge for some.
“I do not know how to write in cursive,” said Kim Porforio, a student at Del Mar College. “Because it was never taught to me.”
But now as young adults, opening a bank account, signing a lease or other documents, her and Gabriella Ramirez, another student at Del Mar, say re-introducing cursive is a good idea for the next generation.
“I want that to happen, so it can help them in the long run as well, so they won’t have to suffer like me,” said Ramirez.
