Should cursive still be taught/required at school?

Last night, “The Simpsons” mocked cursive not being taught at schools anymore. Lisa snuck off and Bart wanted to know why.  Principal Skinner, Bart, Bus driver Otto and a group of other students followed her to discover her secret. It turns out a former principal was teaching her cursive.

Otto asked don’t they teach that at school?  To which Principal Skinner explained that cursive was “outmoded, no room in the budget and all the teachers forgot how to make a Capital Q.”

When I grew up in Gwinnett, I can remember learning cursive from Mrs. Reddick, my third-grade teacher. I loved all the flowing, fancy letters. It made me feel like a grown up and much like Ramona Quimby of the Beverly Cleary books I liked to write my name on every scrap of paper I could find.

Rose was taught cursive it in second grade and then they used some in third grade. When we were still in Georgia, there was a test in fifth grade I believe you had to write in cursive. But I think maybe that stopped being a requirement. (Teachers is it still a requirement? Is it still taught at all?)

In Arizona, they did the cursive practice book in third grade but I don’t think it required or graded beyond that. In fact, his teacher this year encourages types whenever possible.

Does your school teach cursive? If so, what grade? Is there any requirement to use it in class or on state tests?  Should it be taught? Is it outmoded?