23 January 2013 hearings on SB0105 Child Abuse - SB120 Cursive Writing - Legislation Part 6

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hear two child related bills on Wednesday 23 January 2013. Members of the public are invited to appear and observe or present testimony.

Senate Bill 0105 affects the following citations: IC 31-33-1-2 The synopsis is as follows:
Synopsis: Child abuse and neglect inquiries. Provides that when confronted with a potential case of child abuse or neglect, any law enforcement employee, judiciary employee, medical doctor, employee of a medical doctor, or school official may contact a local office of the department of child services to report and inquire about the suspected child abuse or neglect.

Currently any person who suspects child abuse or neglect has a duty to make a report to the department of Child Services or the local law enforcement agencies. The applicable statute is found at IC 31-33-5 et seq. I generally am required to make a few of these reports each year.

The entire text of the statute that Senator Steele proposes is as follows:
When confronted with a potential case of child abuse or neglect, any:
(1) law enforcement employee;
(2) judiciary employee;
(3) medical doctor or employee of a medical doctor; or
(4) school official;
may contact a local office of the department [I would add the following here-OF CHILD SERVICES] to report and inquire about the suspected child abuse or neglect.

In adding the language of “potential case” this bill is lowering the standard for making a report but designating that it is applicable to only certain people who may be better able to evaluate that potential through their experience or training. Unlike the Duty to Report statute this bill provides permissive reporting rather than an obligation. House Bill1086 authored by Representative Davis seeks to move duty to report to 35-42-6 et seq as a new section.

The other child related bill being heard is another piece of simple legislation, usually an anomaly in the legislative world, this one authored by Senator Jean Leising. She has proposed to add cursive writing to the curriculum mandates of each school corporation and accredited nonpublic elementary school.

Senate Bill 0120 affects the following citations: IC 20-30-5. The synopsis is as follows:
Synopsis: Cursive writing in school curriculum. Requires each school corporation and accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum.

The heading on this bill caught my attention and instantly produced the thought that it is about time someone outlaw the teaching of cursive writing. I can recall attempts to get me to practice cursive writing when I was in school. I simply refused to participate because the instructor was unable to make a logical connection for learning it.

The valid reasons for opposing instruction in cursive writing that existed nearly 40 years ago are more so now. As students in the United States drift further down the stream of competitiveness adding instruction in cursive writing to an already overburdened curriculum will only set students back further.

This legislation should certainly be opposed.

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