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Why 11 states are trying to save cursive from its inevitable death

Cursive handwriting is beautiful, but it's increasingly obsolete in a world where adults rarely have to write on paper. This video explains why some states are nevertheless clinging to this dying art:


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Over the past few years, several states have passed laws requiring students to learn cursive in elementary school, in response to the Common Core education standards, which don't mention cursive, or handwriting, at all.

cursive law map

But the Common Core really just reflects a longstanding trend: Cursive handwriting has been on its way out for two generations, long before texting became the preferred way for young people to communicate. When the SAT essay was first introduced, only 15 percent of high school students chose to write in cursive:

cursive SAT essay

Check out the video above to learn more about the past and future of cursive handwriting, and read more about it here.

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