By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Wednesday, May 4, the Alabama Senate passed a bill requiring that all Alabama schools instruct children in cursive handwriting. House Bill 218 was sponsored by State Representative Dickie Drake (R-Leeds). The bill had already passed in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Rep. Drake said in a statement, “Today I successfully passed legislation requiring cursive writing to be taught in all Alabama schools by the end of the 3rd grade and each school board must certify to the state board of education that they are complying with this law.”
Republican nominee for State School Board, Jackie Zeigler said in a statement, “The handwriting bill passed the State Senate today. On to the Governor for his signature into law. Schools MUST report that they are teaching cursive as the course of study requires. Without it, our children would not be able to read cursive writing, including signatures.” Jackie Zeigler has no Democratic opponent on the November ballot.
Many advocates of conservative education reforms have been lobbying the legislature to see the once common method of writing re-introduced into Alabama schools.
Rainy Day Patriots Co-Director and Alabama Legislative Watch Dogs Coordinator Ann Eubank said, “Handwriting bill passed Senate today; on to Gov. for signature. Schools MUST report that they are teaching cursive as the course of study requires. Without it our children will not be able to read our Founding Documents.”
Staci R. Tawbush with the Shelby County Republican Women said, “Thank you, Dickie Drake!!! I’m so, so proud to call you my representative!”
Many teachers across the state have stopped teaching cursive handwriting as it is not often used in a digital environment where all the letters are in manuscript. Handwriting is also not measured on all of the expensive standardized testing that the State Department of Education has ordered schools to give to students.
HB218 now goes to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley for his signature.
