I know that varies by region, but schoolchildren are generally taught cursive as a faster way to write. It already requires some memorisation with some glyphs being different from block letters. Why not make an additional step and completely replace it with shorthand, making writing an order of magnitude faster?
Totally agree. I started learning shorthand a while back but never finished the self study. Eventually I forgot everything but later in life though how awesome it would have been to literally write down everything said in some of my meetings at work or my classes in college.
That said, I think we don’t have to decide between them. Teach both.