Cursive handwriting, a dying art, preserved through Catholic education

Some would call cursive writing a dying art as it is now only required in less than half of the public schools in the nation, according to the National Education Association. But Catholic schools are keeping it alive, along with good penmanship. And five Archdiocese of Newark Catholic school students are so good at it that they received national recognition in the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest.  

William Adamo, a 2nd grader from Holy Trinity School in Westfield; Violeta Torrado, a 3rd grader from Academy of Our Lady of Grace in Fairview; Emily Hernandez, a 4th grader from Saint Peter School in Belleville; Emily Tran, a 5th grader also from Saint Peter School in Belleville; and Chloe Kim, a kingergartener from Christ the Teacher Academy in Fort Lee were announced in May as National Handwriting State Level Winners in the competition. 

Violeta Torrado poses with her Zaner Bloser medal and handwriting notebook that she won. She will be competing on the national level. 

Students in grades K–8 from both public and private schools competed across the state.  Just 15 National Handwriting State Level winners were chosen this year from across New Jersey. 

The contest, entered by approximately 2.5 million students in grades K-8 nationally each year, is the most prestigious handwriting contest in the United States.  

Hernandez said that having good handwriting is important because it means people will understand what she is trying to communicate. “My readers need to understand what I am trying to say clearly,” she said. “Also, if I become famous one day, I will be able to sign my name for autographs." 

Tran, who previously won the competition when she was in kindergarten, said “handwriting is important because if my writing isn't easy to read, people will not understand. I always take pride in all my work, including my handwriting." 

Zaner-Bloser, the publishing company that hosts the annual competition, was originally founded in 1888 as The Zanerian College of Penmanship by Charles Paxton Zaner. The college offered diploma courses aimed at producing professional penmanship teachers and certificate courses for producing pen art specialists. Over time, the company evolved into a publishing house that develops handwriting, literacy, and math-based learning solutions. 

The Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest was established in 1991 “to recognize excellence in the teaching and learning of manuscript and cursive handwriting,” according to the company's website. 

To enter the competition, students across all grade levels must submit a writing sample that includes their full name and the required sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” because it contains every letter of the alphabet. Students are also asked to write a sentence about what they like best about handwriting. Judges select winners based on Zaner-Bloser’s four keys to legibility: the shape, size, spacing, and slant of the letters. 

Violeta Torrado's winning cursive handwriting sample. 

As part of his entry, Adamo wrote that he enjoys practicing his handwriting skills because “it is peaceful.” 

Torrado said that she finds it relaxing to practice her handwriting skills. “I was so excited to win the handwriting contest. I enjoy writing stories and sharing them with my friends," Torrado said. 

Zaner-Bloser awards cash prizes and educational materials to winning students and schools. The 2023 Grand National Champions were announced on the Zaner Bloser website on May 1, 2023. 

“We know from research that handwriting offers several benefits to children that can support cognitive development and bolster academic outcomes,” Lisa Carmona, president of Zaner-Bloser, said. “The Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest encourages the teaching and use of print and cursive handwriting in schools across the U.S. and recognizes students for their commitment to this lifelong skill.”  

The Zaner-Bloser National handwriting competition highlights an academic talent that is dying out as computers and tablets become a staple in classrooms across the country. In New Jersey, cursive was dropped as a requirement under Common Core standards in 2010. In 2019, a bill was introduced that would require elementary schools in the state to teach students how to read and write in cursive by the end of third grade, but no action was ever taken to move the bill past the committee stage.  

As of 2022, the National Education Association reports that just 21 states have made cursive writing a mandatory part of their state’s academic curricula. While more of the nation’s public schools adopt standards lacking cursive requirements, educators in the Archdiocese of Newark continue to emphasize its importance in the classroom. 

Barbara Dolan, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, noted that cursive writing has a wide range of benefits for students. 

“When we worked with teachers to develop our curriculum maps, the decision was made to continue teaching cursive writing and general handwriting skills,” she said.  

Dolan said that decision was based on research that shows the cognitive benefits of cursive writing. Cursive writing engages various areas of the brain which can help students learn and remember better, she said. 

According to Psychology Today, research conducted using MRI brain scans and EEG monitoring shows that handwriting stimulates regions of the brain known to underly successful reading skills. Additionally, practicing cursive enhances hand-eye coordination and is even known to promote improved spelling skills. 

In addition to academic benefits, practicing cursive handwriting builds character and helps students develop focus, discipline, patience, attention to detail, and accuracy – virtues all Catholic students are called upon to send forth according to the Memoria Press, a publisher of classical Christian education materials.  

William Adamo, 2nd grader at Holy Trinity School in Westfield, proudly displays his winning handwriting sample.