Requires school districts and charter schools to provide instruction in cursive writing
If enacted, SB1462 would have a significant impact on the educational framework within Missouri. By embedding cursive writing instruction within the state education standards, this bill seeks to reinstate and elevate the importance of handwriting skills, which some advocates believe are declining in the digital age. The realization of these provisions would require school districts and charter schools to allocate resources towards teacher training, curriculum development, and assessment practices that emphasize cursive writing.
Senate Bill 1462 aims to amend chapter 170 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri to require that all school districts and charter schools provide instruction in cursive writing. Specifically, the bill mandates that every elementary school within these jurisdictions must ensure that students develop the capability to write in a legible cursive style by the end of the fifth grade. Furthermore, it establishes that students must demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing through a teacher-constructed test, thereby formalizing cursive writing as a necessary skill within the educational curriculum.
Notably, discussions surrounding SB1462 may involve points of contention regarding the educational priorities of schools. Some educators and stakeholders argue that focusing on cursive writing may detract from other critical skills and subjects that are equally, if not more, important in a modern educational setting. Additionally, debates may arise concerning the feasibility of implementing such changes within already stretched school resources and the potential backlash from families and educators who prioritize digital literacy and other contemporary forms of communication over cursive handwriting.