Yesterday and Today

“Manners are of more importance than laws.”

-Edmund Burke, British statesman, 1700’s

“Without good manners, human society becomes intolerable and impossible.”

-George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright, 1800’s

“If manners were an animal, it would be an endangered species.”

-Henry C. Rogers, American public relations expert, 1984

How things were different not too many years ago:

-Students rarely came late to class. When they did, they apologized. Today, many often come late. Only rarely does one apologize.

-Students didn’t get up, walk across the room, throw something in the wastebasket, then walk back across the room while the teacher was talking. Today, it is done often, and nothing is thought about it.

-Students didn’t litter in the classroom or write on desks. Today, many students do both.

-Students didn’t talk back to teachers in a defiant manner. Today, it is done often.

-Students didn’t swear in classrooms or the hallways. Today, some students can’t talk without swearing.

-When students needed something from the teacher, they would say, “May I please have …,” usually in a pleasant tone of voice. Today, many students say, “I need …,” often in a demanding tone of voice.

-Students used to say “please” and “thank you.” Today, only a few students use those words.

-Students used to listen when the teacher was talking. Today, many students feel that they have the right to ignore the teacher and have a private conversation with their friends.

-Students used to listen when other students were asking a question, answering a question, or expressing an opinion. Today, many students don’t want to listen to their classmates. Students are discounted!

-Students, in general, were more considerate of other people’s feelings. Today, many students could care less about other’s feelings. They’re more “into themselves.”

Some questions to consider:

1) Why is this happening?

2) Is a society better when people treat each other with respect?

3) Is a classroom better when both students and teacher show mutual respect?

4) Why does Henry Rogers say,”Good manners are one of the most important keys to success in life?”

5) What is the “Golden Rule?” If it’s so simple, why do so many people today have difficulty practicing it?

6) Do students practice the manners in the classroom that they were taught by their parents?

7) Which impresses people the most – being “cool” or being courteous?

– Hal Urban