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Senate committee backs mandate to reintroduce cursive instruction in early grades despite calls for local control
Summary
The committee approved a substitute combining two bills to require cursive instruction for elementary students; proponents argued for cognitive and cultural benefits, while principals and school boards urged that curricula remain a local decision.
Senator Jim McKnight led a measure to require cursive handwriting instruction in elementary grades (a proposed committee substitute combining S-1783 and S-2712). The committee released the substitute after witnesses debated whether the topic should be mandated by statute.
Proponents said cursive supports fine motor skills, memory and cultural literacy. "Writing by hand activates different parts of the brain," McKnight said, and cited the trend of other states reintroducing cursive…
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