Reading, writing and arithmetic are basic skills most students learn in school but at least one Winnipeg school has contemplated doing away with cursive writing lessons.

At Winnipeg’s Ecole Dieppe, parents received an email asking if they wanted the skill dropped from the curriculum.

Freya Timmerman, a grade one student at the school, hasn’t yet learned to write her name in cursive but really likes the lessons.

"Learning different styles of letters," said Timmerman about why it appeals to her.

Her mother Kendra Floyde, who is also a teacher, says Timmerman was determined to learn the skill after noticing cursive lettering around her.

"She saw it with logos, with signs and she was curious as to what it was saying so she wanted to learn what the letters were saying and then how to make them and how to form them," said Floyde.

And she was more than pleased to get her daughter going.

"I think that it helps connect the past to the present that allows her to be able to read historical documents, when she's taking notes it will allow her to write quicker and faster," said Floyde.

Not all parents at the school agree and some question whether it is a waste of classroom time which prompted the school division to send the email asking parents if cursive writing was a skill they should continue to teach.

"The result was confirming what most of us would've predicted that over 90 percent of the parents thought cursive writing was a worthy skill for their students," said Ted Fransen, Superintendent of the Pembina Trails School Division.

"Obviously computers are necessary but if they can also do that to compliment it, I think that's a great thing," added Ecole Dieppe parent Annie McGregor.

"Definitely some smarter handwriting skills are good for a student and it definitely looks nicer as well," said Hilary Mailey , another Ecole Dieppe parent.

Freya Timmerman couldn't agree more and practicing penmanship is a pastime she hopes to one day turn into a profession.

Timmerman and other children in Winnipeg officially start learning cursive writing in grade 3.

As for Ecole Dieppe, the school division says  no changes are being made to the curriculum.            

Manitoba Education says cursive writing is here to stay and has no plans to eliminate it from the curriculum.

In neighbouring Ontario and a number of American states it is deemed optional.