Cursive: The Oblique WritingWhen I first started learning cursive in Mrs. Schuler's second-grade class, I wasn't very happy about having to sit quietly at my desk for that which seemed like an hour learning to turn the page sideways and trying to remember how many humps have an "m" and an "n." It was incredibly boring to sit there and watch a video and follow the steps while Mrs. Schuler watched my lesson progress, never hesitating to correct us if we were doing it wrong. As a naive second grader, I never would have thought that what I and my class were learning wasn't being taught in other second grade classes. I didn't realize that other kids had no problem making their capital g look so close to the sample in their booklet. I definitely didn't think then that I would be grateful for knowing how to write in cursive. During elementary school, my teachers asked us to write everything we turned in in cursive. Occasionally I would hear some students complain, and as we got closer to becoming high school students, I would listen to them happily talk about the fact that teachers didn't require the use of cursive. Even though I didn't realize it when I was learning cursive, I've come to appreciate the twisted way of writing and I'm very lucky to know how to read and write that way. My classmates and I have the choice to write in block letters or cursive, but some kids never have that option. The Common Core State Standard is “an education initiative that aims to align state curricula with national standards” (“National Survey Reveals Cursive Writing Education Is in Danger.”) This is a recent initiative and has since been well received in 45 US states... middle of paper... n old diaries or historical documents like the Declaration of Independence, when they are written in English, the language they speak. That's why cursive should still be taught in schools, along with the skill of use the keyboard. Technology is growing exponentially and it is important for children to be knowledgeable about computers, but that doesn't mean they should ignore the written word. Students should be able to choose whether to write in cursive or in block letters, but they need to be exposed. They may have trouble remembering how many humps have an "m" and an "n" or think that tilting the page is unnecessary, but if the italics are omitted, they won't get to experience it and either love or hate it. Something can be said about cursive, but it cannot be said that there are any disadvantages to learning it. Why then get rid of something that wasn't harmful in the first place?