Illinois Districts Moving Away From Cursive Writing

The Chicago Tribune (9/26, Black) reports on the "shocked" reactions of parents in DuPage County, Illinois, to news that the school district is dropping cursive writing from its curriculum "in order to squeeze more 21st century lessons, such as keyboarding, into the classroom day." The Tribune notes that across the state other districts have "begun to downplay cursive to conform to a new set of 'common core standards' adopted last year. At least 44 other states have signed on to the new standards, which dictate the skills students should learn at each grade level."