Why Write Still Matters

Not long ago, I watched a student carefully draft a story across the page—but instead of beginning on the left side, she began on the right and moved backward. It was as if the act of writing itself was a puzzle, unfamiliar in direction and rhythm. This moment has stayed with me, not because of the mistake, but because of what it revealed: too many of our students are underexposed to the craft of writing.

As an educator, I’ve seen the shift firsthand. Technology has taken center stage in classrooms and in homes, and while it offers powerful tools for learning, it has often replaced the slow, deliberate practice of putting pencil to paper. Writing is not simply about spelling or penmanship—it is about thinking, processing, and finding one’s voice.. When we sideline it, we risk leaving students without one of the most essential skills for self-expresion and survival.

This is especially urgent in Black communities, where children are too often not given full access to the culture of writing proficiency. When students are not consistently exposed to books, stories, and authentic opportunities to write, they lose out on more than academics—they lose out on power. Writing is tied to effective communication, and effective communication is a survival skill. It shapes how students advocate for themselves, how they navigate opportunities, and how they participate in the larger conversation of society.

For me, teaching writing has never been about worksheets or test prep; it has always been about justice. Every child deserves the ability to craft a sentence that speaks truth, to read words that inspire, and to believe that their voice is worth putting on paper. Writing matters—because students matter, and their futures depend on it.