formal instruction on dining etiquette should be mandatory in all US public schools

Con's "sole" argument is that teaching kids decent manners would divert scarce resources from science and mathematics but, important though these subjects undoubtedly are, it is the schools' responsibility to provide children with a broad-based education that will equip them for adult life. That's why subjects such as domestic science and skills for living are on the curriculum at most schools and instruction on dining etiquette could be included in one of these subjects at no extra cost. Next, I shall address Con's ‘first' argument that dining etiquette is "outdated". I hope this house will agree that good manners are of fundamental importance to a cohesive society and that common courtesy and consideration of others will never be obsolete in America or any other civilised country. Furthermore, the idea that this instruction would be wasted as "the vast majority" of kids will never have the opportunity to dine in restaurants that serve food on plates and provide cutlery to eat it with seems a rather bleak and unrealistically pessimistic forecast given that the United States is the richest country in the world. Con's ‘second' argument is that children are likely to follow popular culture rather than follow what they are taught at school. I admit, this argument does have some currency: children in school are taught not to engage in many of the activities that are promoted by popular "gangster" rap artists such as Mr Iced Tea, Mr. L. L. Cool-Jay, The Beastly Boys, Mr Snoopy Dog, Mr Fifty Cents (or Mr Thirty-One Point Nine Three Pence as he's known when touring in Britain), M&M and Mr J. Zed, which include violence, profanity, promiscuity, homophobia, racism, theft, substance abuse, misogyny, gun crimes and vandalism, yet some children do engage in some or all of these activities and continue to do so as adults, but the majaority of children do hede their teachers advice and grow up to become responsible, law-abiding citizens, and the same principle would apply to dining etiquette. My opponent's ‘third' argument was that the children's parents would continue to eat like savages even if the children didn't, but this is to underestimate the influence kids have on their parents. If their parents are planning a family day out the kids might well petition them to visit an amusement park rather than, say, spending the day at The Lace Museum [1] or at an ornamental flower garden, or at some dreary old relative's house, and petition them with success. Similarly, children are able to persuade their parents not to embarrass them by making them wear old-fashioned, unfashionable clothes and will similarly be able to shame their parents into eating their food in the correct manner, especially when they are in the company of their friends. Con's ‘fourth' argument relates to cost and I politely refer you to my response to his "sole contention" which addresses this issue. My opponent's ‘fifth' and final argument relates to the "Europeanization" of American culture. This, I have to say, beggars belief: American culture has swamped Europe to the extent that American-style suburban shopping malls have decimated the traditional town centre shops such as butchers, bakers and greengrocers; Hollywood movies entirely dominate cinema and television schedules; and American fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, Burger King and KFC have put countless traditional cafes out of business, caused the streets to be littered with junk food wrappers and containers and the rates of obesity to soar. Now, I'm not saying I don't ever shop at supermarkets, watch the occasional blockbuster movie or consume a hamburger every now and then, but I do lament the devastating effect the mass import of American culture has had on Europe and its people so I think that a little culture travelling in the opposite direction across the Atlantic would be more than appropriate. Thank you. [1] . http://thelacemuseum.org...