Parents alarmed by the realization that their teenagers cannot decipher cursive handwriting have inspired one Illinois lawmaker to propose requiring schools to offer a course on the art of the flowing font.
Kids use computer keyboards for most communication these days, but what if they need to sign a legal document or read a letter from grandma? State Representative Chris Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, says they’re going to need cursive for that. He’s sponsoring a measure that would ensure students receive at least one class in old-school slanted script.
“I think we’re losing a whole generation. You know, you’re having folks that are 18 and above that don’t even know how to write in cursive. You know, we have historical documents that are written in cursive. They can’t write it; they can’t read it.”
Opponents call his idea another unfunded mandate. But it received committee approval and is headed for a vote in the House.
