Laurels & lances: Letters and bills

Laurel: To an elegant return. Some schools are making sure that in a world of texting, the time-honored skill of handwriting doesn’t get lost.

State Rep. Joe Adams, R-Wayne/Pike, has introduced a bill that would require public schools to teach cursive. While some schools — like Mary Queen of Apostles in New Kensington — still spend time on the sloping, connected letters, it isn’t something that ends up on a standardized test. That makes it easy to deemphasize.

It isn’t just a Catholic school thing. Districts like Burrell and Hempfield Area still focus on it too.

“We have learned about how important it is for a child’s brain to be activated through instruction and practice that integrates listening, reading, speaking and writing,” said Autumn Turk, Burrell’s director of curriculum and development.

Science and technology are important. So are reading and math. But there is also room in education for the practicing of a deliberate skill that helps support every other subject — and can be used daily over a lifetime.

Lance: To surprise bills. No one likes to pay more for anything. That dislike can be all the worse when talking about taxes.

But as 2024 tax bills have been sent out this month, many Westmoreland County residents have been expressing shock about a 32.5% hike in county taxes. For one, John Proffitt, 91, of North Huntingdon, the increase meant his $471 taxes jumped up to $592.

“It’s ridiculous for it to (go) up that much in one year,” he said.

It is. Taxes are a necessary evil, but their impact should be minimized by responsible spending along with small annual increases that prevent this sticker shock. That’s on the elected officials.

However, there are responsibilities on the other side, too. It is just as important for the taxpayers to stay informed and aware of what government is doing. What Westmoreland County commissioners did in raising taxes may be unpopular, but it was hardly a surprise. It was done openly and covered extensively.