Cursive handwriting is reappearing in some school policies and curricula, prompting a debate over whether students should be required to learn it. Coverage points to renewed attention as multiple states have incorporated cursive instruction requirements, reversing decades of reduced emphasis.
Both outlets describe that at least a portion of U.S. states mandate cursive for students’ reading and writing. The Phys.org piece frames cursive’s return as a broader cultural shift, while The Conversation focuses on the policy landscape, citing the number of states that require cursive. Together, they indicate that the discussion is not only about teaching handwriting but also about what state standards consider essential for literacy.
While they agree that cursive is being brought back in law or regulation in more places, the sources present different emphasis: one highlights cursive’s historical role and current resurgence, and the other centers on how many states still require it and the implications of those requirements. The broader question raised is whether cursive instruction is justified compared with other literacy priorities.
