The Write Stuff: Marine Vet Fights for the Future of Cursive

For businessman and Marine veteran Phil Schnabel, the loss of cursive writing in Oregon’s public schools isn’t just an educational oversight — it’s a disservice to students. Now in his 80s, Schnabel has taken it upon himself to advocate for the return of cursive instruction by meeting with school leaders, speaking at civic groups, and planning to work with state lawmakers.

The effort began when Schnabel wrote a long, handwritten letter to his granddaughter. She was a top student who had just graduated high school as an honors student with a 4.42 GPA. Despite her academic achievements, she couldn’t read it. That moment brought home the reality that many students today are graduating without basic cursive skills.

Since then, Schnabel has taken a hands-on approach. He has presented to school boards and spoken with principals, sharing historical documents such as the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, all of which are written in cursive. At the end of his presentation, he displays the phrase “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,” written in cursive, to demonstrate that most young people in public schools can no longer read this simple sentence.

For Schnabel, this isn’t just about handwriting. It’s about literacy, historical awareness and the ability to function in adult life. Cursive writing plays a key role in developing a personal signature — something still needed for voting, legal documents and identity verification. Without that skill, Schnabel sees a future where young adults may struggle with basic tasks, such as signing a will or completing a contract. Research also shows that writing in cursive activates areas of the brain linked to memory and learning. This activity helps the brain process and store new information more effectively, creating strong conditions for learning and long-term retention, which is beneficial for all students.

Most educators and parents have responded with support. While some school districts allow individual teachers the freedom to include cursive, others restrict it because it’s not explicitly written into state standards. One teacher told him that she was disciplined and forced to stop teaching students to write in cursive. Schnabel hopes to change that by working with state legislators to require cursive instruction in Oregon schools, similar to recent legislation passed in Idaho. His goal is for all students to become proficient in cursive by the fifth grade.

Private and homeschool settings often still include cursive, but most public-school students are missing out on this valuable skill. Schnabel views this not just as an educational gap but a failure to prepare students for real-world responsibilities.

Schnabel’s years in the Marine Corps and decades in sales taught him the value of discipline, clear communication and being prepared. Those same principles now guide his efforts to improve education. He views cursive as more than an old-fashioned skill — it provides students with a means to connect with the past, express themselves clearly and tackle essential tasks they’ll face as adults. He believes that all Oregon students deserve an education that fully equips them for the future — and that includes learning to write in cursive.