Cursive is not required to be taught in Illinois classrooms, along with 45 other states. With its relevance questioned in an era of technology, cursive has been abandoned from core education standards. This raises the debate: Is cursive necessary for future generations?

In District 302, students are introduced to cursive in third grade, and can continue using it into future grades if they choose.

“It is an important skill to have exposure to, just like we will expose students to multiple ways to problem solve a math problem, we should also share multiple ways to write and allow students to choose what they are comfortable using effectively,” Kaneland Elementary School Curricular Director Sarah Mumm said.

Hanover research has shown that when children use cursive, their brain activity increases more sharply than when printing or typing. Cursive stimulates both sides of the brain helping young students develop comprehension and motor skills. It also promotes longer memory, deep thinking and can improve regular handwriting.

“It’s easier for me, and I think it looks better,” sophomore Aaron French said.

French was taught cursive in grade school and decided to continue using it into high school.

“It’s funny because I went to a private middle school with a class of eight people, and I was the only one who used cursive,” French said.

SAT scores show that students who chose to write in cursive tend to score a few points higher than students who use print.

Besides the cognitive benefits of cursive, many people believe it has historical value.

Historical documents are written in cursive. A signature is referred to as “your John Hancock.”

Some psychologists and philosophers believe that cursive writing, as well as print, are linked with a person’s character. Studies suggest that the size, slants and other aspects of someone’s writing reveals personality traits.

“To write something ‘long hand’ requires time and care, so to take the time and make the effort to write someone a letter, or a note in a card, is a lot more personal than sitting down and typing an e-mail or text message, even if one chooses a distinctive font. It seems to me that more art and care goes into composing a letter or a note when one does so using cursive,” Waubonsee Philosophy Professor Keith Bickley said.

So why is cursive disappearing?

“Although learning cursive may give students a valuable alternative to keyboards, it’s difficult to argue against the prevailing opinion that in the future few will rely on pens and paper to correspond or record their thoughts,” Bickley said.