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Indiana latest US state to drop handwriting requirement | Indiana latest US state to drop handwriting requirement |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Indiana is the latest US state which will not require its schoolchildren to learn joined-up, or cursive, writing. | Indiana is the latest US state which will not require its schoolchildren to learn joined-up, or cursive, writing. |
But students will have to learn basic typing skills, which education officials say are more useful in the modern employment world. | But students will have to learn basic typing skills, which education officials say are more useful in the modern employment world. |
The move is part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which aims to ensure consistency in US education and makes no mention of handwriting. | The move is part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which aims to ensure consistency in US education and makes no mention of handwriting. |
But critics say writing well is a vital skill for life and builds character. | But critics say writing well is a vital skill for life and builds character. |
US schoolchildren currently learn to write with joined-up writing from about the age of eight. | US schoolchildren currently learn to write with joined-up writing from about the age of eight. |
But under the core standards - which were released in June 2010 and have been adopted by nearly all US states - there is no requirement for them to do so. | But under the core standards - which were released in June 2010 and have been adopted by nearly all US states - there is no requirement for them to do so. |
'Progressive' | 'Progressive' |
Children from grade six upwards - about 11 years old - will, however, be expected to "demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting". | Children from grade six upwards - about 11 years old - will, however, be expected to "demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting". |
Many schools have said there simply is not enough time in the term to teach children both. | Many schools have said there simply is not enough time in the term to teach children both. |
Dr Scott Hamilton, an Indiana clinical psychologist, said the time children spend labouring over script could be better used. | Dr Scott Hamilton, an Indiana clinical psychologist, said the time children spend labouring over script could be better used. |
"From an intuitive standpoint, this makes sense, based on the increasingly digital world into which this generation of children is growing up," he said. | "From an intuitive standpoint, this makes sense, based on the increasingly digital world into which this generation of children is growing up," he said. |
Denna Renbarger, an education official in Lawrence Township, Indiana, said there were many more important things for students to be learning at school | Denna Renbarger, an education official in Lawrence Township, Indiana, said there were many more important things for students to be learning at school |
"I think it's progressive of our state to be ahead on this," she told the Indianapolis Star. | "I think it's progressive of our state to be ahead on this," she told the Indianapolis Star. |
Indiana officials have stressed that the standards are not exhaustive and that teachers could continue teaching handwriting if they chose. | Indiana officials have stressed that the standards are not exhaustive and that teachers could continue teaching handwriting if they chose. |
But some parents, teachers and psychologists have reacted angrily to the move, saying there is more to handwriting than being able to write quickly. | But some parents, teachers and psychologists have reacted angrily to the move, saying there is more to handwriting than being able to write quickly. |
"The fluidity of cursive allows for gains in spelling and a better tie to what they are reading and comprehending through stories and through literature," Paul Sullivan, head teacher of a school in California, told CNN. | "The fluidity of cursive allows for gains in spelling and a better tie to what they are reading and comprehending through stories and through literature," Paul Sullivan, head teacher of a school in California, told CNN. |
"I think there's a firmer connection of wiring between the brain's processes of learning these skills and the actual practice of writing." | "I think there's a firmer connection of wiring between the brain's processes of learning these skills and the actual practice of writing." |
Parent Jerry Long told the Indianapolis Star he was worried about what the new system could mean for his sixth grade daughter in the future. | Parent Jerry Long told the Indianapolis Star he was worried about what the new system could mean for his sixth grade daughter in the future. |
"I don't agree with it. How are they supposed to know how to sign their names?" | "I don't agree with it. How are they supposed to know how to sign their names?" |
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