A recent press release issued by Rep. Joe Adams (R-Wayne/Pike) reports that he will be proposing legislation that will require cursive to be taught in Pennsylvania's schools.

            It brought back memories of days gone by when I learned to write my a-b-c's in first grade, then along about fourth grade I learned to write them in cursive.  There was no such thing as a laptop or personal computer way back then so our homework assignments became increasingly more reliant on the use of writing in cursive.

            Cursive was the way you wrote letters, completed documents, and even signed your name.  Heck, many government officials still match your signature against other documents when checking for fraud and when signing a contract makes your obligation official.  Count how many documents you signed over the past year.

            When laptops, desktop computers, and other digital devices came along things slowly started to evolve away from your signature and cursive writing.

            According to Adams, "Being able to write and read cursive is a fundamental and necessary skill for everyone to learn. Our founding documents like the Constitution and Declaration of Independence are written in cursive. People sign their names in cursive, and official documents often require writing in cursive to memorialize business,"

            Times change, people change and I guess the value of cursive writing can be argued.  I still use it, a lot, but I'm old.  I think back over time and figure that I must have signed my name thousands of times.

            I surrender to the fact that I'm not familiar with what methods of authenticating one's self in legal or official matters are used today.  I still sign my name, even on the back of my credit card.  New methods may be better or worse, I'm not sure, so I'll stay with my "John Hancock".

            The proposed legislation will require instruction in cursive handwriting or joined italics to be taught in the appropriate grade levels.  If it becomes a law, Pennsylvania would just be one of 19 states that would require basic instruction in cursive handwriting.

            So, what's your opinion on teaching cursive and at what grade should it begin?  Also, is there a benefit of writing in cursive that creates a written self-identity that can separate human work from that of artificial intelligence?

            Is it an important skill?