Bakersfield College English instructors voiced their concerns and opinions about the new standards of curriculum excluding cursive handwriting as a requirement for elementary schools. “I lament the fact that we’re not teaching penmanship,” Richard Marquez, BC English instructor, said.

So far, 41 states have adopted the new Common Core State Standards for English, which does not require children to learn cursive handwriting. States do have the option to re-include cursive handwriting. However, so far, only California and Massachusetts have done so.

Cindy Hubble, BC English instructor, was shocked by this news. “I think it’s a horrible idea,” Hubble said.

“I think there are always going to be times when we have to hand write things.”

She explained that she felt that notes for people’s children, forms, and other things will always need some sort of legible handwriting, usually cursive.

Hubble reminisced that the year that she learned cursive handwriting was her favorite year of elementary school. “I think it is even an art for some,” she said.

Marquez said, “When they said they were going to take cursive out of schools, I was like ‘oh my gosh, that is so sad.’”

Marquez went on to explain that he went to a Catholic school where not only were they taught penmanship but they were also graded on it.

“I have the handwriting of a 70-year-old nun,” joked Marquez.

He laughed at his long-standing joke explaining that he did learn his handwriting in a Catholic school and actually modeled his handwriting from a nun.

Marquez explained that he already has heard of and even been confronted by students that are unable to read cursive handwriting. “If I’m still here 20 years from now, I’m going to be teaching these kids that don’t even know what I’m doing,” he said.

Some instructors were able to raise more questions and concerns than answers.

Longtime BC English instructor Rebecca Mooney said, “I think it’s a huge problem because most places require a signature and signatures are done in cursive.” Mooney questioned whether people would just start “block printing” their signatures.

Kate Pluta, another longtime BC English instructor, raised similar concerns. Pluta questioned why they would even decide to take it away. She wondered if they will be devoting that time to teaching something else. If they’re planning to teach keyboarding as an alternative, Pluta wondered if there is even funding for keyboards.

“I think since the process has started, it won’t stop,” Mooney said. “Teachers will have to learn to adjust.”