First teach the adults, most of whom are sadly lacking in this forgotten “area called manners”. It is from them that the children will learn. It’s the ill mannered parents that should be sent back to school.
Have you looked at the rudeness of adults lately…car rage, cutting in line, cell phones in public places, parents fighting at sports games, swearingbullying others and even rudeness on chat boards and the list goes on.
Schools are there to further the education of our children, not to be a substitue for parents. I think teachers have enough on their agenda’s without having to take the responsiblity that parents should instill in their children.
This is not to say that good manners should not be encouraged or rewarded in school.
Teachers can have a large influence on children & should always aim to set the standard of behavior themselves, or how can we expect it of others.
Part of teaching is in the extra-curricular interactions that take place in school and it is here that teachers can have the greatest impact on a child’s social behavior-not through formal classroom training.
Parents should teach good manners and etiquette, teachers should enforce it. Manners should not be taught in school, they should be reinforced & expected.
CHILDREN LEARN BY WATCHING OTHERS, NOT BY WHAT THEY ARE TOLD.