Mississippi elementary students are now required to learn a new art form — cursive handwriting.

We’re glad the state’s new College and Career Readiness Standards for English Language Arts requires Mississippi educators to teach cursive handwriting to students until the sixth grade. Doing so ensures students will be able to read handwritten notes and historical documents, like the Declaration of Independence, and sign their signature on a receipt or document.

Cursive writing also enhances motor skills, muscle development and comprehension. It can help synchronicity between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, something that is missed when using print or typing on a computer.

We’re also glad our community seems to feel the same way — from the 252 “likes” and 14 “loves” our Facebook page received after posting the article, it’s evident parents appreciate cursive writing being taught in our schools.

The Lafayette County School District currently teaches cursive in two third-grade classes, and the Oxford School District teaches cursive in grades two through six. We appreciate the initiative our schools and educators have taken to ensure students learn this important form of communication.