Do you think there should be a class taught on manners in schools?

United States
March 5, 2008 9:00am CST
I know this was done a long time ago, from how to speak correctly to how to act at the dinner table etc. And really I know that this is suppose to be the parents job, but as we know most parents these days are caught up in work, and sadly dont want to take the time to show there children things. So I think it would be a helpful tool. How about you all?
7 people like this
24 responses
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
5 Mar 08
As a daughter of a single parent you realize how much a parent can do. I think this would be a great elective class for students to take. But probably the kids that needed it most wouldn't elect to take the class!
2 people like this
@jennysp8 (855)
• United States
5 Mar 08
Of course I think it should be done at home...but the fact is most of the time it isn't. This is simply because the parents don't care at all, the parents work too much to do everything, or the parents themselves lack basic manners therefore they can not teach it to their children. If it could not be implemented in the younger grades for whatever reason, it would be nice to see it as an elective for the middle school and high school kids. I bet alot of students would take that elective thinking it would be an easy class -an easy grade...who cares what brings them there - they may actually walk out learning something. Thanks for the discussion!!
2 people like this
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I think that is an excellent idea. It seems manners have gone by the wayside and I'm afraid some children aren't being taught manners at home. I think a class would be good and starting at a very early age.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Amen to that but they have already taken out religion in schools, which I think is a very bad thing for us and our kids. I think kids should be taught manners and self respect, especially to their elders. Kids these days do not have any respect for themselves or their parents in most cases. It is sad to see these days. I always loved my mom and my dad and would have never done anything to make them not proud of me. I didn't understand why alot of times, but i did what they told me to do.
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
7 Mar 08
I agree with you totally. I couldn't have said it better! I've always told my children, that what they brought upon me will come back even harder!
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Yes. you are right. If they think they have it rough now, wait until they grow up and have children and they will see just how hard things will be if they do not listen and raise their kids right also.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
6 Mar 08
I'd support this..Good Manners begin at home from Parental example,but there's always room for improving social etiquette..
@catbvq (364)
• Philippines
6 Mar 08
Yes, I think there should be a class to teach proper decorum, even if we teach this at home. I have observed a lot of children that behave properly when they're at home but acted differently with people outside their family. If it is taught and practice outside the home they will get used to it and be well-mannered all the time.
• United States
6 Mar 08
I agree with you all . Kids should have to have a grade on how well there manners are, and that way they know what to work on. I find this really important, I mean really their is a real world out there and they need to learn it~!
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
5 Mar 08
Some decades ago, such a thing was not necessary, but now it is very much reuired. For there are reasons: 1. The present day parents do not believe in joint family, hence there is no grandmas and grandpas in many families; they are all sent to home for aged. 2. Both parents work and are busy in their jobs/business and therefore they do not have time to teach children the manners and courtesies which they should essentially inculcate and practice it sincerely. 3. The influence of TV/Movies on children is so bad, it is necessary to concretise in the minds of children the need to have good manners and extending good courties as part of civilized way of living.
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
7 Mar 08
I agree with you. I think its the right thing to do. educated children is more have side effect than educated the older people. The parents are busy, this will be helpful for the children future.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 08
I think manners is something that should be taught any place possible but also know it's difficult for teachers to cover everything what with hour cuts, pay cuts, increased cirriculum, and everything else. I worked for one of the local school districts for several years and all the teachers I know didn't have a special class for manners but they did include good manners in whatever project they were working on, snack times, lunch periods and even on the playground.
1 person likes this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
21 May 08
I guess that is being inculcated in some of the subjects but there should be a follow up at home. ONce it was taught in the school and they'll have an opposite scenario at home, they will never absorb it and will never leave to what they have learned!Parents can start saying, acting and living on it for their kids to follow!
• United States
22 May 08
I agree it does need to start in the homes and it would be nice if schooling would follow up with it to see where kids are.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
21 May 08
I think it would be great. I see alot of kids that have no manners and there's no one to teach them b/c some parents don't bother with it. Maybe if they started a course on it more ppl would have them. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
• United States
22 May 08
i know twoey! I really think a course should be taught. I think its more than a good idea!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
5 Mar 08
Not only do I think a class should be taught, but I also strongly feel that good manners should be enforced at all levels of school and in all places at all times. This should be done objectively and graded just like any other subject (just like it was done when I was in school, although that trend was starting to noticeably change a bit as we went up through the grades in public school. It is something I required of my students at every grade I taught, including college, but most of the other teachers did not in recent years.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
5 Mar 08
I think it would be a good idea. I also think that some of the parents should be forced to attend. Some children with poor manners have learned the poor manners from their parents. Others may have polite parents that do not take the time.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
5 Mar 08
Bringing manners class back may be a good idea. But I think it should start at home. "Please and thank you, excuse me" are all a good place to start. I do take the time to teach my child these. Taught at home, and practice at school should be a good beginning. We as parents need to make the time. IMO
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
6 Mar 08
isnt there one? i think back in my school we have a class for this, talks about mostly health, and other stuffs but there is also a discussion about good manner and right conduct. it is also being graded i think hehe
@no_chao (548)
• Philippines
6 Mar 08
in our school (high school) there are some subjects/course that do teach table manner... but too sad that i can say that they are incapable of giving their best to do so... we only have minimal time for this class and we dont have enough utensils/tools to use in actual... we are more on theories... while manners... it is already included grades school's curriculum. its called GMRC or Good Moral and Right Conduct... fram grade 1 to grade 6 GMRC are always in the list!!... maybe that's why FIlipino(s) are known for our being "Magalang" or Polite... ^_^
@ayou82 (3450)
• Philippines
6 Mar 08
Teaching manners is at home with the help of your parents. In school manners should be applied and learn more things that you can bring and apply at home.
6 Mar 08
i think its very important to have manners where ever you are, if your a school, home or with friends and family.. i think its annoying when you have good manners and others around you not.... its really shows what kind of person they really are... its especially important to have respect for your elders even if its someone the same age or any age really... otherswise others around you will pick up on them bad manners and start to copy and its not right...
• Philippines
7 Mar 08
Although I think it really is a good idea. I felt it's somewhat useless to teach manners in school as students might not even follow them. It's still best if manners are thought by parents.
• Pakistan
6 Mar 08
yes think there should be a class in schools to teach manners