How New Law Requires Kids To Learn A Retro Skill

By Casey Rafter and Christina Mendez | Special To The OBSERVER Courtesy of istockphoto The proliferation of smartphones and computer labs has led to schoolchildren getting next to no practice putting pen to paper. A new law for grades 1-6 aims to rectify that by emphasizing cursive writing, a practice that has fallen out of favor in schools throughout the state. Subtitled “Pupil Instruction: Writing,” Assembly Bill 446 amends section 51210 of the state’s education code. The new law requires instruction of cursive writing for elementary school students. Along with two related laws, Senate Bill 509 and AB 285, it also introduces instruction on mental health and instruction on causes and preventative measures for climate change. Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) said the practice of cursive writing enhances brain development, affecting memorization and fine motor skills. Experts also have noted that historical documents often are written in cursive, making it hard for students without the skill to analyze or interpret important original source material. While some school districts still teach cursive writing in their curriculum, others do not. Quirk-Silva said she believed the lack of consistency among districts, as well as between public and private schools, created a potential inequity that...