Cursive Makes a Comeback in New Jersey Schools
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy signed a law requiring all third, fourth, and fifth graders in the state to learn cursive handwriting, effective immediately for the next full school year.
- The law aligns New Jersey with about two dozen other states that have reinstated cursive instruction following its removal from the Common Core Standards in 2010.
- Supporters argue that learning cursive improves information retention, writing speed, fine motor skills, literacy, and helps students read original U.S. historical documents like the Constitution.
- State Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer emphasized that cursive instruction supports developmental foundations and student confidence.
- Parents, such as Gabrielle McCann, value cursive for its role in developing refined motor skills
