Well, I went to school many years after your mom, but I felt I got a great education in public schools and that they were much harder than today (like college type courses today, as you said). When I first starting learning cursive, 4th grade IIRC, I really liked it and would use our little book and practice and practice. Not being braggadocios but I’ve been complimented on my hand writing many times over the years. I’ve had staff, managers and coworkers writing that I could not read/had problems deciphering. Perhaps that’s why many guys have gone to printing??
So libs, what's wrong with that?