FULLERTON, California (Reuters) - A generation of children who learned to write on screens is now going old school.
Starting this year, California grade school students are required to learn cursive handwriting, after the skill had fallen out of fashion in the computer age.
Assembly Bill 446, sponsored by former elementary school teacher Sharon Quirk-Silva and signed into law in October, requires handwriting instruction for the 2.6 million Californians in grades one to six, roughly ages 6 to 12, and cursive lessons for the “appropriate” grade levels - generally considered to be third grade and above.
Experts say learning cursive improves cognitive development, reading comprehension and fine motor skills, among other benefits. Some educators also find value in teaching children to read historic documents and family letters from generations past.
I have 20 or so fountain pens, probably more. I use them exclusively since 2014 and, strangely enough, have never felt the urge to write in cursive. They perform almost exactly like normal pens but without the pressure on the tip.
Calligraphy, sure, but just for kicks. Cursive is still useless imo and was when I had to learn it as a kid. I sure as hell wouldn’t make kids now learn such a niche writing form that is somehow far, far less relevant than dip pens much less fountain.
A lot of the fountain pen guys I follow all write in cursive so I’d thought I’d pick up the skill again. I thought learning cursive in elementary was kind of neat (California education system) and I’m pretty rusty for not using it for so long.
Weird, I usually only see calligraphy. Glad you’re boarding the train though, they’re a lot better than ballpoint or rollerball!