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69th Legislature 2025 HJ 36.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HJ 36
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 36
2 INTRODUCED BY Z. WIRTH, D. LOGE, L. DEMING, N. DURAM, P. FIELDER, S. KELLY, G. KMETZ, R.
3 MINER, M. NIKOLAKAKOS, G. OBLANDER, K. WALSH
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5 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
6 MONTANA ENCOURAGING MONTANA'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH
7 INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO READ AND WRITE IN CURSIVE.
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9 WHEREAS, cursive is a type of handwriting in which all of the letters in a word are connected; and
10 WHEREAS, the ever-increasing reliance on computers and related technology in today's society has
11 provided students with keyboarding skills, but students lack the ability to read or write in cursive; and
12 WHEREAS, scientists are discovering that learning cursive has important benefits for students'
13 cognitive development, and that multiple parts of the brain are activated when learning to write cursive, as
14 compared to typing or simply viewing letters; and
15 WHEREAS, documents that are fundamental to our country's history and laws, including the
16 Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, were drafted in cursive; and
17 WHEREAS, students should be able to read our most valued historical documents in their original form,
18 be able to read cursive or sign their names in cursive when required, and be enriched by the cognitive, motor
19 skill, and other benefits that result from learning to write in cursive.
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21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
22 THE STATE OF MONTANA:
23 That Montana school districts be strongly encouraged to introduce cursive writing as early as
24 developmentally appropriate and to provide exposure to cursive throughout a student's school career, in part so
25 that students will be able to appreciate historical documents and different literacy formats.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to the
27 Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Board of Public Education, and each public school board in Montana.
28 - END -