After having learned from the Parent-Teacher Coordinator at PS 124 that their school taught cursive or script in the third and fourth grade, I wanted to find out why my grandchild, a fifth grader at PS 295, did not learn cursive.
After repeated calls and E-mails to Ms. Marco, the principal, Shari Fields, the Parent-Teacher Coordinator and my grandchild's teacher, Mr. Pang, I decided to go to the parents of children from this school.
One parent, who chose to remain anonymous, said, "I think it's horrible. Everyone should know script. Even though 295 offers drama, dance and the arts, they should be able to make room for the teaching of script".
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This mother also added that the school wasted so much time teaching different math strategies, for say addition, that had basic math that you and I grew up learning. Without this there would of been plenty of time for the teaching of script.
I know this for a fact, because I had to hire a math tutor for my grandchild. My tutor was aghast at the way math was being taught. She said it was making it harder on the students to learn. This writer believes they place more importance on "teaching the test." I am not alone in this belief; it is a controversial subject.
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One child who is graduating this year and going on the sixth grade said, "I would of loved to learn script, instead of the same old dance every year." I've kept people's names anonymous, since many have more than one child at the school.
One brave mother, Sharon Oser, made many important remarks.
Oser said, "I don't believe there is money in the budget for NYC public schools to teach cursive writing. Unless the parents work with the Principal and show a demand for it, it might happen.
Oser goes on, "Imagine our children going to Washington, D.C. to the National Archives and not having the pleasure of reading say, the Declaration of Independence. Or going through old family diaries, handed down generation by generation, and they can not read them.
Another good point Oser made was that from a practical point of view, cursive writing helps small children develop their motor skills." She added it is also an art form which I also stand by. Every one's penmanship is as personal as a fingerprint. I am not a Luddite. I accept computers are here to stay. But how will our adult children sign important legal documents? With an "X"?
If one public school can teach it, why not PS 295? I believe it's up to the parents to use their voices and rise up and use their power to change this appalling situation.
