I wonder what the research says about the learning matrix of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and cognitive development.

The utility of writing cursive as an adult or adolescent may be a different issue from the value of learning and practicing skills and cognitive development that may occur from the process of learning written expressive language skills.

My handwriting is illegible, and so is my son's. I'm glad I have a keyboard. In my work I use a keyboard as much as possible, but I still have to hand write a fair amount. I try to print when that occurs as it is important that others can read what I have written. In terms of cognitive development, fine motor skill development, and hand-eye coordination, however, it may well be there is significant value in the child learning to write cursive.

I remember virtually nothing of my trig. and calculus classes. But I do know that taking those classes developed my skills at problem solving and thinking through complex issues.

Learning cursive may or may not have comparable value for the cognitive development of a latency age child. I don't have enough information to have an informed opinion.