Meeting Public Comments

Sandy Wilson [Citizen Engagement]

Citizen Engagement is declaring IN FAVOR of SF 89. Our founding documents are written in cursive. It is the obligation of each generation to ensure successive generations are equipped to read these documents in their original form and not rely on others to decode them. There are too many bad actors that would like to change them and what a great opportunity to do that than to make them unreadable in their current form.

Tyler Peterson

I believe students need to be able to read and write cursive. Some of the most important documents in history are in cursive and it is vital that upcoming generations be able to read and interpret them. Please make cursive mandatory.

Jodi Schrage [Parent]

February 22, 2021The Honorable Senator Jake ChapmanState Capitol Building1007 East Grand AvenueDes Moines IA 50319Dear Senator Chapman,My name is Cole Schrage and I am a sophomore at Waukee High School. I am writing to you today to persuade you to pass SF bill 89, a bill that requires cursive writing to be taught in schools in Iowa again. Reading and writing in cursive is an important skill for kids to learn. I found out that just like me, many kids my age were not adequately taught cursive and are far from proficient in it. The bill looks good and there are no changes required, but you need to pass the bill for the next generation of students. Not only does it improve their education. It helps so they can read historical documents, sign their names professionally, and be able to read letters from their grandparents and family recipes. Cursive is not a new type of writing. Cursive has been around in America for over two hundred years, so why should we stop teaching it now? Cursive is a part of our history. Written in cursive are America's most important documents like the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and many more. If we forget cursive, then we may be forgetting a part of our history. These documents seem like they were made a long time ago, but relevant to today's age, our parents and grandparents were taught cursive. What if you just simply want to read an old family recipe, but are unable to because you or your children were never taught cursive. Our generation not learning cursive will cause future generations to never know cursive.Writing in cursive not only has historical and sentimental value but educational value as well. An article from the Philadelphia Inquirer mentions a study from the University of Washington. It states that cursive develops fine motor skills and handeye coordination, by causing brain activity and improving memory. These are all very important, especially with younger kids. The bill asks that students legibly write in cursive by 3rd grade. So if passed this bill could improve elementary students education and can help them get ahead early on in life. Another article, this one from the New York Times states that cursive improves spelling and literacy for students early on in life. This means that kids will spend less time on basic subjects and can focus on more difficult subjects in earlier grades, leading to smarter kids. Opposing educators in one article talk about time management. Saying that adding a subject like cursive means you have to take another subject away. That argument is invalid because cursive improves spelling and literacy for students early on in life. Since they have to spend less time on spelling and literacy there is more time for other subjects. After the first and second grades, they stop teaching basic writing. So that means you should have time available for cursive writing in third grade. Also cursive is not a subject that needs to be taught 2 hours a day. You could teach it for 20 min a day and kids will still be able to learn it well. Cursive has numerous advantages and educational benefits as well as historical value. Therefore you need to pass the SF89 bill. Senator, you are at the forefront of getting this cursive bill passed. There are already 14 states that have passed similar cursive bills. Why should we sit on the sidelines, we dont want Iowa's youth to have a disadvantage. With almost no downfalls to cursive and the benefits significantly outweighing the few weaknesses. I implore you to vote yes and get this bill passed, not just for you or me, but for future generations of Iowans. Sincerely,Cole Schrage

Amy Jepsen

As a former educator and mother of 4, I would like to say that research shows a huge benefit to learning cursive. According to many studies, the link to brain activity and development is so strong that some experts say nothing else in the classroom can begin to compare to the powerful impact that repetitively manipulating the thumb and fingers overtime has on the young brain. Please make learning cursive a requirement for all 3rd grade Iowa children.

Kayla Pickering

Please require cursive in curriculum. Our founding documents are in cursive, and cursive fonts are still highly used in many industries including marketing, art, graphic design, branding, etc

Jennifer Leonhard

I support students learning a type of script, however I do not think it needs to be legislated to be cursive. The school I attended taught a form of writing that is called "italics" and is a precursor to calligraphy, it is a joined script like cursive, but can be easier for some students to write and read. I would like to see the language broadened to include other forms of script than just cursive.

Jenn Turner

Two weeks ago, my 5th grader attended BizTown. They had checks to sign for the simulation. The night before, my son was Googling, "how to write my name in cursive"? Do you remember signing you name over and over, because becoming creative with your signature was fun? My Grandmother and mother writes all of our birthday cards in cursive (which I have to read to my children). Most importantly, our founding documents are in cursive. Cursive is an art. Cursive is a PART OF HISTORY! Save our History! Teach Cursive!

Teri Patrick

I feel cursive is important to teach in the elementary schools. There is research showing it helps create important neural pathways in the brain of our developing children."Writing in general helps build important neural pathways in the brain, helping you to better remember whatever you were recording. This is not the case with typing.Andrea Gordon, writing for ParentCentral in the Toronto Star, writes on cursive writings impact on neurological development. Citing the research of Toronto psychiatrist and neuroplasticity expert Dr. Norman Doidge, she says that cursive writing is unique in that, unlike with print handwriting and typing, each letter connects uniquely to the next This is more demanding on the part of the brain that converts symbol sequences into motor movements in the hand. Gordon further ties cursive to emotional circuitry according to Dr. Jason Bartons research at the University of British Columbia."

Shannon Pelham

Yes cursive handwriting should be part of a schools curriculum. I have 2 high schoolers who dont have a signature bc they were never taught how to write in cursive!

Jill Hockemeyer

Please consider including a plan that includes a path for kids to learn cursive who are past elementary school (e.g., grades 612) by the time this bill passes.