Students in California have a new curriculum as part of their classes at school in the digital age: Cursive.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law at the beginning of 2024 requiring students in grades one through six to learn cursive. "What we actually know is when you don't have that hand-to-paper connection, that mind-hand-paper connection, you actually are losing some of the things that are important," Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent of the Stockton Unified School District, said. "You actually don't have as quick of processing if you don't have that consistent practice between the mind and the hand." Rodriguez said her school district has had a cursive and handwriting curriculum in place since before the new law was passed. "We know we can't shut out technology, but we also know that if we're going to have the highest-preforming children, with the best memory and best processing, then we have to do something that has happened for centuries, which is writing," she said. KCRA 3 went inside a Stockton third-grade classroom to watch students do their cursive lesson.Many said they prefer to handwrite in class instead of using their computers or tablets."I feel like it gives me time to concentrate more than the computer because, on the computer, you have to figure out where to type and where the letters are," one student said. Another said the computer makes their head hurt, and the majority of the students also said they prefer pencils to pens."If I mess up, I can just erase it and rewrite it," a student said.A company in Stockton believes pencils could change the world. In a time where technology dominates, Blackwing wants to inspire everyone to tap into the art of slowing down."By slowing down, by making the deliberate choice to write with the pencil or to read a physical book, you're giving yourself the space to not let everyone else's ideas just flood your head," Alexander Poirier, Blackwing's vice president, told KCRA 3. The Blackwing brand has been around since the 1930s. John Steinbeck, Quincy Jones and John Legend are among the greats who used the Blackwing pencil in their iconic work."In the mid-'90s, the brand was acquired by a large corporate entity, and they looked at it as a niche business, and it was such a small piece of that business," Blackwing's president Grant Christensen said. "The manufacturing is so intricate and so complicated to make a pencil of that quality that they simply discontinued it."The company in Stockton bought the Blackwing trademark back in 2010 after discovering it had been abandoned, with the goal of bringing back the pencil.Its defining feature is a rectangular-shaped eraser, which stops the pencil from rolling off desks and other surfaces. It's made with California cedar wood and has a smooth lead that makes it popular amongst animators."Some people will laugh, but there really is a different experience once you try it," Christensen said. The pencils' sticks are manufactured in Japan and then are sent to the Stockton campus where they get shaved, tipped, labeled and have their erasers glued on."I think there is something analog in our DNA," Poirier told KCRA. "There's something tactile in how we've evolved. We like to touch and feel things."Blackwing says a portion of every product sold goes to the Blackwing Foundation, which helps raise money and develop programs for arts and music education in public schools. The foundation is currently working on a lettering and handwriting initiative that will teach kids how to handwrite. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
STOCKTON, Calif. —
Students in California have a new curriculum as part of their classes at school in the digital age: Cursive.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law at the beginning of 2024 requiring students in grades one through six to learn cursive.
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"What we actually know is when you don't have that hand-to-paper connection, that mind-hand-paper connection, you actually are losing some of the things that are important," Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, superintendent of the Stockton Unified School District, said. "You actually don't have as quick of processing if you don't have that consistent practice between the mind and the hand."
Rodriguez said her school district has had a cursive and handwriting curriculum in place since before the new law was passed.
"We know we can't shut out technology, but we also know that if we're going to have the highest-preforming children, with the best memory and best processing, then we have to do something that has happened for centuries, which is writing," she said.
KCRA 3 went inside a Stockton third-grade classroom to watch students do their cursive lesson.
Many said they prefer to handwrite in class instead of using their computers or tablets.
"I feel like it gives me time to concentrate more than the computer because, on the computer, you have to figure out where to type and where the letters are," one student said.
Another said the computer makes their head hurt, and the majority of the students also said they prefer pencils to pens.
"If I mess up, I can just erase it and rewrite it," a student said.
A company in Stockton believes pencils could change the world. In a time where technology dominates, Blackwing wants to inspire everyone to tap into the art of slowing down.
"By slowing down, by making the deliberate choice to write with the pencil or to read a physical book, you're giving yourself the space to not let everyone else's ideas just flood your head," Alexander Poirier, Blackwing's vice president, told KCRA 3.
The Blackwing brand has been around since the 1930s. John Steinbeck, Quincy Jones and John Legend are among the greats who used the Blackwing pencil in their iconic work.
"In the mid-'90s, the brand was acquired by a large corporate entity, and they looked at it as a niche business, and it was such a small piece of that business," Blackwing's president Grant Christensen said. "The manufacturing is so intricate and so complicated to make a pencil of that quality that they simply discontinued it."
The company in Stockton bought the Blackwing trademark back in 2010 after discovering it had been abandoned, with the goal of bringing back the pencil.
Its defining feature is a rectangular-shaped eraser, which stops the pencil from rolling off desks and other surfaces. It's made with California cedar wood and has a smooth lead that makes it popular amongst animators.
"Some people will laugh, but there really is a different experience once you try it," Christensen said.
The pencils' sticks are manufactured in Japan and then are sent to the Stockton campus where they get shaved, tipped, labeled and have their erasers glued on.
"I think there is something analog in our DNA," Poirier told KCRA. "There's something tactile in how we've evolved. We like to touch and feel things."
Blackwing says a portion of every product sold goes to the Blackwing Foundation, which helps raise money and develop programs for arts and music education in public schools.
The foundation is currently working on a lettering and handwriting initiative that will teach kids how to handwrite.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
