For much of modern American history, handwriting was more than a basic classroom exercise. It was a fundamental skill, a marker of education, personal expression, and everyday communication. From penmanship drills in elementary school to handwritten letters and signatures, the ability to write by hand was once assumed, widely taught, and culturally important. But, with the widespread use of typewriters, and, more recently, with the rise of digital technology, handwriting’s place in American life has shifted.
In the decades following World War II, handwriting instruction was universally integrated into elementary education. Students learned both manuscript and cursive styles, practicing penmanship through repeated drills and lessons. Handwriting was considered essential, not only for schoolwork, but for professional and personal life, from taking notes to signing documents and writing letters.
By the 1950s and 1970s, the use of typewriters began to reshape how writing functioned in professional settings. As typewriting became an essential office skill, schools increasingly offered formal typing classes, often taught on manual and electric typewriters in classrooms throughout the mid‑20th century. These classes reflected the rising importance of keyboard-based communication for future employment and marked one of the first challenges to handwriting’s dominance, as practical writing skills in the workplace began to shift from pen to keyboard.
But, the seeds of change were planted in the late 20th century, as computers, word processors, and, eventually, laptops began to enter schools and workplaces. By the early 2000s, digital devices were becoming more common in classrooms, and keyboarding skills began to compete with handwriting for instructional time, even among the youngest students. As educators incorporated new technologies, the time dedicated to handwriting, especially cursive, began to shrink.
A major turning point occurred in 2010, when the Common Core State Standards were adopted by many state education systems. Unlike previous standards, Common Core did not require cursive instruction or set explicit expectations for handwriting at any grade level. This omission was consequential: without a curricular mandate, many schools deprioritized handwriting in favor of subjects tested more frequently, such as reading and math.
Throughout the 2010s and into the early 2020s, reports and educational commentary noted that handwriting instruction had declined in many districts. With keyboards and touchscreens becoming everyday tools for students, those entering middle and high school had limited experience with cursive or penmanship. For many young people, handwriting became an optional skill rather than a core one.
Yet handwriting did not disappear entirely; it simply shifted context. Students might still take notes by hand, and adults continued to sign documents and jot reminders, but the structured, formal instruction that once surrounded handwriting had weakened. The cultural assumption that every student would learn cursive fluently was fading.
Recently, however, that decline has sparked a new conversation. Concerned parents, educators, and lawmakers have been arguing that handwriting, particularly cursive, offers cognitive, developmental, and historical benefits that digital typing alone can’t provide. Research by psychologists and educators, including studies from institutions such as Indiana University, has suggested that handwriting engages cognitive processes linked to memory and early literacy, reinforcing the idea that writing by hand can support deeper learning and comprehension in ways that typing alone may not.
As a result, a comeback movement has emerged. Today, at least 27 states have passed laws or policies mandating cursive instruction in elementary schools, reversing years of decline and signaling that handwriting still has a role in education. For example, states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey passed legislation requiring cursive lessons to be reintroduced in the early grades, aiming to preserve a skill seen as both a cultural heritage and a practical skill. Public opinion also reflects this renewed interest: a recent poll conducted by The O&P EDGE found that 74 percent of their followers believe cursive handwriting is worth bringing back in schools, highlighting widespread support for its revival and educational value.
Handwriting in America has not returned to its mid-20th-century dominance, but its role is being redefined. Once an unquestioned foundation of schooling, it became a declining skill in the digital age. Now, amid renewed interest in its cognitive and cultural value, educators and policymakers are reconsidering what place it should hold. Rather than disappearing, handwriting is being deliberately re-evaluated less as a universal necessity and more as a deliberate educational choice.
This post was written by Marist Poll Media Team member Molly Goodger