A recent incident at a post office in Los Angeles highlights a surprising gap in literacy skills among some workers. Colleen Reagan, while mailing a gift to her relatives in Nebraska, encountered a postal clerk who admitted, “I can’t read cursive.” This exchange raises questions not just about individual capabilities but also about broader educational trends affecting literacy in the United States.
Colleen had carefully written the address in her clear cursive handwriting. However, when she presented the package, the clerk’s inability to read cursive forced her to print the address instead. The clerk then entered the details into a computer, printed a label, and affixed it to the package. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate regarding cursive writing in American schools and its implications for the workforce.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has long faced criticism for inefficiency, but this incident shines a light on a deeper issue rooted in education. Many observers argue that the decline of cursive instruction in public schools has contributed to a generation of workers who lack basic skills. According to reports, over half of public school students do not meet grade-level standards in critical subjects such as reading and mathematics.
In 2024, only about 31 percent of fourth graders and 29 percent of eighth graders achieved “Proficient” scores in reading, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This situation raises concerns about the preparedness of young adults entering the workforce, especially in roles that require basic literacy skills.
Cursive writing, once a staple of education, has faced significant decline. In California, cursive instruction was largely discontinued after the adoption of the Common Core standards in 2010, which did not mandate its teaching. As a result, cursive became an optional goal in many grade levels, ultimately leading to its diminished presence in classrooms. However, starting on January 1, 2024, cursive instruction will again become mandatory for grades 1-6 in California schools.
Despite this impending change, many young adults have missed out on cursive education entirely. The implications extend beyond personal skills; they affect institutions like the USPS. Modern mail-sorting machines often struggle with cursive handwriting, causing issues for handwritten mail. Although this represents a small percentage of the billions of items processed daily, it translates to millions of pieces that require manual processing.
To address the challenge, the USPS has established a special training center in Salt Lake City where younger employees receive instruction in reading cursive. This program aims to equip workers with the necessary skills to handle handwritten mail efficiently. The experience of Colleen Reagan may explain why some of her hand-addressed letters and gifts have not reached their intended recipients in the past.
As the holiday season approaches, it is easy to place blame for missing packages on external factors, such as Santa Claus. However, the root cause often lies within the educational system. The failure to prioritize fundamental skills such as reading and writing in cursive has left many workers unprepared.
Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, reflects on this issue, emphasizing that even children are aware of the efficiency of Santa’s delivery system, which stands in stark contrast to the government-operated USPS. As the educational landscape evolves, the challenge remains: how to ensure that future generations are equipped with essential skills that enable them to succeed in both personal and professional environments.