Cursive will be taught in Kendall

Students petitioned district, which says it was never cut from curriculum

KENDALL – In August five elementary students petitioned the Kendall Board of Education to keep cursive writing in the curriculum.

The students are getting their wish, although Principal Sharon Smith said cursive writing wasn’t removed from the curriculum.

Cursive will be taught to third- and fourth-graders this year, and fifth- and sixth-graders will be given trace guides and work sheets to practice at home.

“It’s one more way students can communicate their thoughts,” Smith said.

Five students – Morgan Bukatis, Grace Casey, Cayden Faulks, Cameron Faulks and Riley Casey – submitted petitions signed by about 35 people to keep cursive writing. Smith said cursive never left the curriculum.

She said parents and grandparents of elementary students no doubt remember practicing cursive writing in school. Today’s students also learn to communicate on laptop computers, iPads and other technology during a time-crunched class schedule.

“There are other communication tools available now,” she said. “We had some parents ask, ‘Why are you still teaching cursive writing?'”

She praised the students for getting the petitions signed, meeting with school officials and presenting their ideas to the Board of Education.

“They’ve learned the democratic process,” Smith said. “That was the most valuable thing they learned.”

Cindy Christ is the grandmother of Cayden and Cameron Faulks. She supported the students in their push to promote cursive writing. She is pleased with the outcome from the school.

“The students that petitioned the school board are so excited to be learning it and that they have made a difference in their school,” Christ said.