Indiana Schools Ending Cursive as Writing Requirement

The days when Indiana's elementary school students were required to perfect the looping script of cursive handwriting are coming to an end.

Starting this fall, the state Department of Education will no longer require Indiana's public schools to teach cursive writing. State officials sent school leaders a memo April 25 telling them that instead of cursive writing, students will be expected to become proficient in keyboard use.

The Times of Munster reports the memo says schools may continue to teach cursive as a local standard, or they may decide to stop teaching cursive altogether.

Andree Anderson of the Indiana University Northwest Urban Teacher Education Program says teachers haven't had the time to teach cursive writing for some time because it's not a top priority. Anderson says students' handwriting is atrocious.

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