Idaho Falls lawmaker on quest to bring back "lost art"
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"I would like to start a one-man renaissance," GOP Idaho Falls legislator Rep. Linden Bateman said.
Bateman is on a mission to revive cursive writing. "I got a note from a college dean some time ago and it looked like a 5th grader had written the letter," Bateman said.
In this digital age, Bateman composed a piece of legislation this week that would mandate Idaho's public schools teach handwriting.
"A type written message is more sterile," Bateman argued, "your handwriting is an extension of yourself. The cursive script is beautiful. It's elegant art. It's an art form that's being lost sadly."
One Boise teacher supports Bateman's bill. Liz Parsons teaches cursive to her 3rd grade class at Riverside Elementary. Her students are so engaged, pen in hand mastering those letters on their paper.
"Obviously texting and typing and all of those are very important," Parsons said. "But, I also think cursive is real. It's part of our history, it's what we've done for so many years."
Bateman worries if handwriting is not taught, future generations will not be able to interpret old letters and famed documents such as the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, both written in cursive script.
"Let's keep balance in our lives," Bateman said. Sure, technology is great, but let's retain the great traditions of the past."
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