In an era dominated by digital technology, California is taking a step back to embrace a time-honored skill: cursive handwriting. This year, a new law was passed requiring students in grades one through six to learn cursive as part of their curriculum, aiming to strengthen the connection between hand, mind, and paper.
Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent of the Stockton Unified School District, supports the law, emphasizing the cognitive benefits of handwriting. "When you don't have that hand-to-paper connection, you actually lose some important cognitive functions," Rodriguez explained. "Writing by hand helps with memory and processing, which is crucial for developing minds."
In Stockton, the school district has already been teaching cursive, even before the statewide mandate. Teachers and students alike see the value in this traditional skill, with many students preferring pencils to digital devices. "I feel like it gives me time to concentrate more than the computer," one third-grader shared, while another student mentioned that writing by hand helps avoid the discomfort of staring at a screen.
Beyond the classroom, a Stockton-based company, Blackwing, is on a mission to promote the art of slowing down through handwriting. Known for their iconic pencils used by legends like John Steinbeck and Quincy Jones, Blackwing believes in the power of taking a moment to write by hand. "By choosing to write with a pencil or read a physical book, you're giving yourself the space to think more clearly," said Alexander Poirier, Blackwing's vice president.
Blackwing's unique pencils, crafted with California cedar wood and a distinctive rectangular eraser, are celebrated for their quality and craftsmanship. The company, which revived the brand in 2010, is committed to preserving the art of handwriting. A portion of every product sold supports the Blackwing Foundation, which funds arts and music education in public schools, including a new initiative focused on teaching kids to handwrite.
As Stockton students pick up their pencils and practice cursive, they are not only fulfilling a state requirement but also connecting with a skill that has shaped thinkers and creators for generations.
