✍️ Should kids be required to learn cursive?

It’s Wednesday, January 24 — people are talking about North Korea’s nuclear test, the debate over making kids learn cursive, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

🚨 North Korea’s underwater nuclear test

North Korea tested its underwater nuclear weapons system. Some are calling it a real preparation for war, but others think it’s just posturing.

🚨 BBC reports that North Korea performed an “underwater nuke test” as a bold response to US-led drills.

🚨 RFA says that Seoul is highly skeptical of North Korea's claimed underwater nuke test. It's probably a lie.

🚨 But BBC thinks it's real, and says Kim Jong Un is posturing like North Korea is prepping for war. But it's likely a power play, not a real warpath.

🚨 Forbes believes that North Korea's aggressive moves hint at more than just posturing, though. This could be a precursor to war with South Korea.

✍️ Should kids be required to learn cursive?

Cursive is making a classroom comeback, sparking debates on its brain-boosting benefits vs. digital age practicality.

✍️ BBC: A California law would make cursive instruction mandatory for 1st-6th grade. Proponents say that it makes learning languages easier.

✍️ EdWeek agrees: Cursive boosts brain development, and has also been linked to better fine motor skills. It should absolutely make a comeback in schools.

✍️ But Vice disagrees, arguing that teaching cursive in schools is a waste of time. There are so many better skills to teach — like medically accurate sex ed, or financial literacy.

✍️ NEA is torn. Cursive boosts brainpower and fine motor skills, but students also need digital literacy through typing. The key is variety!

Quick hits

📉 eBay is laying off 1,000 workers, citing a "challenging macroeconomic environment". (CNN)

🕰️ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the “Doomsday Clock” to 90 seconds before midnight. (Reuters)

🏊 99-year-old Betty Brussel broke 3 world records in her age group, including the 400m freestyle, the 50m backstroke, and the 50m breaststroke. (The Guardian)

⚫ Russia reported that a plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed, killing everyone on board. (AP News)

Thanks for reading. If you have any feedback or want to share your thoughts or ideas, please email me at [email protected].