Saturday, September 9th, 2017

The write stuff

Educators find value in learning cursive skills

By Tom Stankard
Photo by Tom Stankard/The Daily Standard

Celina Immaculate Conception School fifth-grader Kaitlyn Muhlenkamp practices cursive handwriting Friday morning in Sherry Reineke's classroom. Area educators say it's still important to learn cursive writing.

Even though sending emails has become more common than sending letters, area educators continue teaching students to read and write in cursive.
While many teachers say learning to communicate through cursive writing is outdated, local educators say the skill still has benefits in the modern world.
It's important for people young and old to be able to write and read in cursive, even though the Ohio Department of Education does not require educators to teach it, Parkway Elementary School Principal Mark Esselstein explained.
Area students begin learning the skill in either second or third grade. At this age, students are excited to learn cursive because it's cool, said Marion Local Elementary School Principal Nick Wilker. However, their interest in writing in cursive tends to fade away.
Celina Elementary School Principal Cory Ahrens explained third-graders learn to write in cursive by first forming individual letters. They gradually learn to form words and then sentences.
For fourth-graders, teachers instruct students to write certain assignments in cursive to ensure they continue to practice the writing style, Ahrens expressed. Similarly, New Bremen and Marion Local students begin learning the skill in the third grade and practice it through the fourth grade for 15-30 minutes, Wilker and New Bremen Elementary School Principal Diane Kramer said.
Students enrolled at St. Marys Holy Rosary Catholic School and Celina's Immaculate Conception School begin learning cursive in the second grade and continue practicing it through the fifth grade.
Parkway Elementary School educators spend only about 10 minutes a few days per week teaching cursive, Esselstein said. He explained the school board made this decision because teachers have little time left over after finishing with state-mandated coursework.
Although cursive is becoming a lost art, Holy Rosary teacher Jane Guggenbiller said historical documents were commonly handwritten, and members of older generations often choose to write that way. Having students familiar with cursive writing makes those documents more accessible.
Over time, though, cursive has faded away in favor of electronic communication, Esselstein noted.
"People don't often write letters anymore," Esselstein said. "People are using email, text messages and word processors more."
This is one reason the ODE doesn't require students to learn cursive anymore, he explained.
However, knowing how to read and write in cursive has several benefits, educators pointed out. Wilker said reading and writing in cursive "expands students' minds and makes them better thinkers and better problem-solvers."
Writing in cursive also encourages better hand-eye coordination, Guggenbiller said. She explained learning cursive trains the brain to be able function more effectively.
"Schools that drop it may lose an important learning skill-development tool," she said.
Additional online story on this date
Flyers hold off Cavaliers for 13-7 win
COLDWATER - Tyler Mescher barely got off a punt in the face of heavy Coldwater pressure as time expired.
And just like that, the Marion Local Flyers survived another pressure cooker of a game with Coldwater. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
County department garners more funding, foster parents
CELINA - Several local families are stepping up to help children in need.
Mercer County Job and Family Services Director Angela Nickell, while providing a general update to county commissioners, said seven new foster families recently have been joined the county's ranks.
CELINA - After going for two with just over a minute left to take a 43-42 lead, all Celina needed was one last defensive stop of Elida.
But Elida quarterback Isaac McAdams was not going to let the game slip away.
MINSTER - When the Minster Wildcats faced Delphos St. John's last season, they allowed the Blue Jays to score touchdowns the first seven times they crossed midfield.
NEW BREMEN - A few big plays, some critical New Bremen turnovers and a stifling defense added up to 35-0 victory for St. Henry in the Midwest Athletic Conference opener Friday night at Cardinal Stadium.
Compiled by Colin Foster
Will Homan rushed 26 times for 227 yards and four touchdowns to lead Fort Recovery to a 42-26 victory in a shootout with Parkway on Friday night at Panther Stadium.
ROSSBURG - Clint Bowyer Racing teammates Don O'Neal and Darrell Lanigan swept the twin 25-lap, $10,000 to-win World 100 preliminary feature events at
Western Buckeye League Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Bo Kuenning rushed for four touchdowns in the first half and St. Marys tallied 446 yards of rushing to improve to 2-0 in the WBL with the 50-34 win over previously unbeaten Van Wert on Friday night at Skip Baughman Stadium.