I was beginning to think it was my imagination that I learned cursive in 1st grade because I've yet to encounter anyone else with that experience. This article was such a relief to find:
http://www.abeka.com/Resources/Articles/TheBenefitsOfTeachingCursiveFirst.aspx
Not your imagination. I can barely remember, it was so long ago, but I'm pretty sure we leaned cursive in the mid-50's first grade, if not soon after.
I particularly like this, from the article you mentioned:
"The author of
Teaching With the Brain in Mind put it another way: 'Two generations ago, 95% of people in America used handwriting. Today, most use keyboarding. Yet the skills of handwriting remain important. They are memory, focus, prediction, attention, sequencing, estimation, patience, and creativity.' Let us not be hasty to eliminate possibilities for students to develop cognition, learn skills, and learn work habits that will benefit them their whole life. Lessons in cursive writing are well worth the few minutes of class time given to them daily."