Signs of quiet revolt are everywhere: children tracing neat cursive letters in penmanship class, memorizing multiplication tables, taking spelling quizzes and learning the value of a strong topic sentence.

And now cursive instruction, also known as penmanship class, is no longer required by the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which has been adopted by all but six states.

To the Editor: Re "Grooming a Handwriting Champion," by Michael Winerip (Parenting, May 27): My son would benefit greatly if there were penmanship classes in public school.

In the 19th century, thousands of would-be John and Jane Hancocks enrolled in private penmanship classes where they learned the script of Platt Rogers Spencer, Chancery and others.

During a slow day at school, Alfalfa spends penmanship class writing a note to Spanky, informing his pal that the three "little kids", Buckwheat and Porky, have firecrackers and that Spanky should think of a way to relieve them of their possessions.

She teaches a 20-minute penmanship class several times a week, her students get a penmanship grade on their report cards, and they lose points in other subjects if their handwriting is not neat.