Does anyone else think that we should start teaching a required set of classes to kids to teach manners?

I totally agree that children should be taught this in school. Is it the parent's job to teach this to their children? Of course it is. But they aren't doing it.

Children will know the difference. When we moved to Fl. from NY, my daughter was 8 yrs old.But after only a few weeks she commented to me, "people are so nice here."

So even if they aren't taught at home, it's better they learn good manners in school, than not at all.

It's likely been said already, but I think that Being A Decent Human Being 101 should be a required course for every ADULT. The rest will trickle down to the kids. And as far as the kids go, manners should simply be expected. No one expects kids to be polite anymore. They expect them to behave like small adults who have equal footing in every conversation. While I might respect my child's feelings, they also need to respect that I am the adult, and therefore am responsible for them. This means that, while it might seem unfair to them, I NEED their obedience and respect. The fact that they feel it is unfair is proof enough that SOMEone needs to step up to the plate and be responsible. The child is not capable of doing this, therefore it falls on the adult. The balance of power is skewed, as it should be in the parent-child relationship. It is not unhealthy, nor is it antiquated. It is a matter of necessity.

Anyway, manners are just the old-fashioned term for being a decent person. First teach the adults, then they'll teach their children...because that is what a decent person would do.

Yeah. I agree. Nowadays, the society is degrading by the second. Not only does it disappoint me, it just makes me so irritated to see their obstinate manners. They're also so ostentatious which is NOT cool. They should learn to be themselves. I've been thinking of holding a debate about it. Thank you for bringing this topic because I've been sharing some ideas with my friend about it. I think parents aren't their job, they're just spoiling their kids at the same time as well making them more dependent on their parents. That's not the ideal way. I also see 8th graders wearing thongs? Indecent, please. This indecency has GOT to stop before it corrupts the future generations. With manners, our society would be more of an ideal society. Kids are also materialistic, I find that really stupid. They have to take in consideration about the other kids who don't have enough money to buy the materials they want. It's just like making fun of something due to their economic status. Our basic etiquettes should be passed on to the kids, but in lieu of doing so, they follow their own rules. I think the major thing that's influencing their rude behaviors are the effects of the media. Rap music. A definite. We should stop this corruption, immediately. This will effect OUR future.

That's a parent's job, not the school's.

The problem is that so many adults are rude. It's obvious your parents taught you manners, but maybe your neighbor's parents didn't teach them any, & now their kids are ignorant of the basics as well. Maybe they should teach manners in the workplace! Or how about tax credits for etiquette class? That would get a lot of people going!

No it's bad enough kids don't take school seriously, and to be graded will do no good either. A lot of stuff that we learn in school will never be used in the "real world", and kids will not take it seriously if it were a class. When people realize that you can't get good jobs without manners and plain ethics, then let's see who will be singing a different tune.

I agree,but even if manners are taught at home,kids pick up bad things from other kids.I taught my son manners and he had nice ones for a while.He is still polite sometimes,but from the way he acts most of the time,you would never know how hard I worked at it.I think that it should be addressed and rewarded in school,perhaps,like everything else.Just so they know it matters.

The school I work at has a class called life skills for K-3. It teaches manners, compassion, problem solving, cooperation, and tolerance. Wonderful class, the kids go every fourth day and we can see the difference!

Home is the best place to learn manners. At least one class in a week on manners will make great difference. A good question.

That is a really great great idea b/c most parents today don't take the time to teach there kids manners

there are so many classes being cut in america due to lack of funding I don't see this happening anytime soon. Its not the schools systems responsibility to teach kids manners its the parents and its their fault kids behave the way they do.