The Common Core State Standards Initiative Does Not Require Cursive Handwriting Instruction

Over the weekend, I read that The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) does not require instruction in cursive handwriting. Over 40 of the 50 states have adopted CCSSI. The Initiative supports increasing children's education in keyboarding skills. Pennsylvania and New Jersey have both formally adopted these standards and are no longer responsible for teaching cursive in the classroom (schools are permitted to teach cursive but it is not a requirement).
In the age of technology, it is easy to overlook the importance of legible, fluent handwriting. Here is my attempt to persuade parents to find out if their school is teaching cursive handwriting and, if not, provide cursive handwriting instruction at home. First off, to sign a check, write down a telephone message, or jot down a phone number you need legible handwriting (print or cursive). But in the age of technology, how will the future generations sign legal documents, sign a check, or read documents written in cursive? Still, in this technological age, people are judged by the legibility of their handwriting and the fluency of their compositions. Some examples include job applications, standardized tests (the SAT has a required WRITTEN essay; if you don't bring your own laptop to standardized entrance exams such as the LSAT you have to write it), homework assignments are hand written, school tests, and note taking all require the skill of handwriting. What does any of this have to do with cursive? Since letters are linked in cursive it provides a faster way to take note, finished timed tests, and complete homework assignments. The quickest, legible handwriting is a combination of print and cursive.
While teachers insist that they do not judge a student's work on legibility, research studies indicate that they do. Cursive writing allows for letters of words to be linked (not just single letters like in print and keyboarding)improving working memory skills. People are able to recall information better when they write it down as opposed to typing it. Only half of U.S. homes currently have a computer. If children without easy access to computers are not taught to write legibly and fluently, how are they going to be able to express themselves? Does this move toward the use of technology in the classroom consider the interests of all students? And finally, what happens when computers fail? when there is a power outage? There is still a need for written communication and a need for cursive writing education.