Computer skills force out need for cursive writing in schools

13.07.2011
Keyboard typing and messaging are the way of future no doubt but at the cost of cursive writing? That seems to be the trend as Indiana this week became one of a number of states that no longer require cursive to be taught, but rather require typing skills instead.

The Indiana move is part of a larger move to a common learning and ultimately testing program known as the . That program, developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA), and adopted by 46 state governors in June 2010, outlines all manner of language and math education yardsticks for the future. Keyboarding is one of the skills students are expected to master, cursive writing is not.

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The idea is that keyboarding skills will be more important for students and workers of the future.

For example, the standards document states: "Grade 3-- With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others. Grade 4 -- With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting."

It should be noted that teachers have the option to continue to teach cursive as the standards are meant to be flexible, not exclusive.