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Retired teacher urges board to reinforce cursive instruction beyond third grade
Summary
During public comment a retired third‑grade teacher said cursive instruction at local schools has been limited to brief exposure in third grade and urged the district to enforce and reinforce the 2021 state requirement through fourth and fifth grades so students retain the skill.
At the June 16 meeting, a public commenter who introduced herself as Lorraine, a retired third‑grade teacher and grandmother, told the board she was concerned students in the district were not receiving sustained cursive instruction.
Lorraine said a 2021 state law requires teaching cursive in third grade and that practice should be reinforced in fourth and fifth grades. She said one grandchild learned cursive in third or fourth grade and practiced at home, but another only learned to write his name and then did not receive sustained instruction. “Just introducing cursive is not enough,” she said, urging repetition and reinforcement across grades.
Lorraine asked the board to follow up with Murdoch Elementary principal Miss Kinsdale; she said the principal had previously assured her cursive was being taught but Lorraine remained concerned it had not been sufficiently reinforced. The board did not take immediate action during the public comment period; staff said items or questions requiring a response would be referred to the appropriate staff member for follow‑up.
