Cursive Writing
Schools in 43 states that have adopted the Common Core education standards are dropping cursive from the curriculum in favor of typing, a move that has teachers and legislators in seven of those states up in arms. “This shouldn’t be happening here and now. We’re still using it in everyday things,” North Carolina legislator Pat Hurley, who is sponsoring a "back to basics" law in the state's legislature, told UPI.
While they plan on fighting to keep the lost art, some aren't sad to see it go. “…Spending the half-hour a day on cursive handwriting with the emphasis of going paperless was not the best use of our time,” said Mary Cooke, literacy coordinator at Illinois' District 50, citing more and more reliance from students on electronic devices. Laura Dinehart of Florida International University's college of education disagrees: “A lot of people feel an emotional connection to cursive,” Dinehart said. “There is thinking that as your pen flows on paper, so does your thinking.”
National Anthem
It was once routine to recite the pledge of allegiance and then blankly sing the National Anthem at the beginning of the morning announcements in school. Schools across the US have eliminated singing the national anthem, saying, “It takes too long, and wastes time that can be used in the class constructively.”
Mandatory Recess
Gone are the days when kids were required to spend a portion of their day playing outside in the warm sun. The jungle gym, playing kickball and the 50-yard dash are now activities children are no longer required to participate in during school. Educators across the country are lobbying for mandatory recess to be reinstated in schools, but it has been a slow process to force schools to return to their roots.
Paddling
Teachers and administrators once had the right to paddle children with wooden boards for misbehavior. Although issuing corporal punishment is still legal in 19 states, most schools do not offer it anymore.
Write on the Chalkboard
The dusty film covering your hands after being forced to solve a math problem on the chalkboard is an experience that many of today’s children are missing out on. Smart boards (or white boards) have taken over the classrooms, eliminating the "banging erasers" punishment, while favoring more tech savvy presentations.
Mandatory Arts Classes
Making macaroni necklaces, paper snowflakes and playing hand bells were skills that every child used to experience at some point in school. These days arts classes have been reduced by nearly half across the country, leaving the creative development of children to the parents.
Roll out Televisions
What a delight it was to hear the familiar squeak of the portable television being rolled into the classroom on a push cart. But these days, flatscreen televisions and smart boards that display vivid images and crystal-clear videos are replacing the box televisions of our youth.
Handwritten Cheat Sheets
If you could copy an entire cheat sheet for Tuesday’s history quiz on the inside of your arm, you were a pretty cool kid. Today’s student has a better advantage due to access to the Web through cell phones. In fact, there are reports that nearly 35 percent of students cheat by using their cell phones.
Square Dancing
Although a forced and nerve-wracking activity (depending on who you were partnered with), square dancing was once a ritual physical education activity that many children have fond memories of. Square dancing is no longer taught in schools, so no more bowing to our partners and bowing to our corners and no more holding hands with that kid who doesn’t wear deodorant.
Surprise Report Cards
When your parents asked, “How are you coming along in school?” all you had to do was reply, “Fine,” and they had to trust your report. Today’s students can’t exactly hide behind smiles when it comes to their grades, because programs like Pinnacle—an Internet-based grade reporting system used by many school districts—allows students and parents to check their child’s daily progress from home.
