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Indiana bill would require teaching cursive writing

Associated Press
January 8, 2013
Keywords
Education & Workforce Development, Government, Government & Economic Development, K-12, Legislature, Public schools, State Government
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Indiana lawmakers are again considering a push to require the teaching of cursive writing by the state's schools.

The issue first came up after the state Department of Education in 2011 dropped cursive writing as a required part of the school curriculum and told school districts that it expected students to become proficient in keyboard use.

The state Senate's education committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday on a cursive writing bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Jean Leising of Oldenburg. The bill would require all public school districts and all accredited private elementary schools to teach cursive.

The state Senate approved a similar bill last year, but it didn't advance in the House.

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  • ?
    MordantJanuary 8, 2013 9:49 PM
    Doesn't the legislature have more important things to do, like picking on gay people? Oh, wait... Never mind.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • ???
    ???January 8, 2013 6:32 PM
    they made us learn back a few graades ago tho i thnk its bad luck. its bad luck bc thats what they were teching when LANZA came in and started shootin it all up!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • I am so appalled by this.
    SIMPLY APPALLEDJanuary 8, 2013 3:28 PM
    Contrary to what Rep. Leising thinks, we need to REMOVE this GARBAGE from our schools. Of course the Democrat party is responsible for relentlessly influencing Rep. Leising to put forth this trashy bill. This is just another example of so-called 'bipartisan' trash. You need to realize that this bill would serve only to further the homosexual influence in our schools. Cursive used to be a very useful way to write, but now it's predominantly used by gays to communicate. Young people should be set straight early in their development. We must turn away from the road that Rep. Leising wants us to head down - a path where children as young as six are allowed to swap and manipulate their own sexualities and genders before they even truly understand their own thoughts. Cursive writing requirements only reinforce this. Cursive writing should be banned, not required!
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  • Stop looking at me, swan!
    Billy MadisonJanuary 8, 2013 3:17 PM
    I hate those darn z's! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Jez-F7v_CYc
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Self-esteem
    JoesMomJanuary 8, 2013 3:08 PM
    It is my contention that if students are taught to print, expected to practice routinely, and allowed to avoid the interruption of cursive training, they will improve their printing skills and ultimately avoid “letter confusion” that results in difficulties with reading. They will also benefit from the repetitive hand movements that will help their spelling, and they will learn to print more legibly, which will increase their academic self-esteem.
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  • what's next...
    steve cohenJanuary 8, 2013 2:57 PM
    escribir cursiva?
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  • nObama
    RighthandedJanuary 8, 2013 2:51 PM
    PHfan... I am with you that this country is going down hill fast (mostly because of the use of sharia law under eric holder) but we need to rise up like a phoenix and fight to keep our GOD given liberty of free speech (and writting). Having a tyrannical government forcing us to adopt a "state approved" writing style is what is wrong... not right, with this country. I love my freedom and my penmanship but it is my penmanship not OBAMA's!
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    • Obama's America
      parishiltonflanJanuary 8, 2013 2:43 PM
      The origin of the cursive method is associated with practical advantages of writing speed and infrequent pen lifting to accommodate the limitations of the quill. Teaching this antiquated style of writing makes sense in light of the decline of are country.
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    • print>cursive
      y u noJanuary 8, 2013 2:43 PM
      y u no type in cursive! y u type in print?
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    • Come On!
      ROFLJanuary 8, 2013 2:35 PM
      Does anyone even sign their name legibility or consistently anymore? Also, what happened to parents giving a hoot and teaching their kids? Gul u need to get realz
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
    • Right On!
      RobsGirlJanuary 8, 2013 2:16 PM
      Everyone should know how to sign their name and teaching cursive writing is essential. Now if they would just start teaching spelling again, our education system might just be worth something.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment
      • YOLO
        SMSJanuary 8, 2013 1:36 PM
        AFAIR cursive is SAL! ATM no 1 uses it. OMG! Maybe in da 1800s peeps used it but that was B4 computers. Indiana YOYO! THX.
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      • WTF
        AmenJanuary 8, 2013 1:30 PM
        cursive writing! Ain't nobody got time for that!
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      • Waste of time
        RighthandedJanuary 8, 2013 1:29 PM
        What does writing in cursive have to do with anything? This is a waste of time and an example of how “big government” wants to get involved in every aspect of our lives. Our leaders need to focus on job creation and our infrastructure not our handwriting.
        Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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