The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-01-21
LACK OF MANNERS
Earl Grey Lays Blame on Parents
and Teachers.

Earl Grey Lays Blame on Parents
and Teachers.
At a recent largely attended public
meeting held in the City Hall, Toron-
to, Earl Grey, governor General, made
some remarks respecting the children
ct Ontario, which were received with
varied feelings by those present, and
which have formed the text for much
criticism, newspaper and otherwise,
since, says writer in the Catholic
Union and Times.
The words of the governor general
to which exception has been taken in
some quarters and the highest COM
nlendation given in others, were: Il
am not convinced that your schools
are turning out boys fitted when they
become men to be reapers of splen-
did destiny. Your children in some
1arts of Ontario are without man.
ners." Earl Grey laid the blame upon
parents and teachers.
Nothing hurts parent or teacher so
much as to hear that the children of
their love and care are wanting in
any of those things that go to the
making Of a beautiful childhood, and
to be told even in mild and courteous
language that their children We're
without manners" was sure to be re-
sented by some of those to whom the
words were addressed. At a meet
ing of the public school board of the
city, held later, the matter was
brought up and discussed, one mem
Der at least expressing bis belief that
Earl Grey was not justified in his re-
marks. The Catholic Record of Lon
con in an editorial says: "The Asnks
of the country are due to his excel
lency for his candid criticism; for he
is too sincerely our well wisher not
10 help to remove what characterizes
barbarians rather than civilized peo-
pie, bad manners"
While public opinion in the matter
undoubtedly throws it's weight in sup
port of the statement of Earl Grey,
and largely so when he places the
blame on parents and teachers, yet
might he not have gone further and
said that manners or what was for
merly regarded as such are now al
most strangers even in adult society?
The old world courtesy and respect
children were taught to pay to pa
rents, teachers and superiors gener-
ally are scarcely known in our gen.
Grafton, and this is part Of the indie
rendence upon which the New World
twentieth century prides itself. The
"sir' with which boy formerly adj
dressed his teacher is now looked
upon as sign Of subservienoy which
many parents deprecate and teachers
themselves regard as on the list of
o]d-fashioned pedagogics. So It is
with other things. The public school
has no such subject as manners on
its curriculum. This does not mean
that all children brought up in these
schools are rough and uncouth, but
that where refinement and good be-
bavior are largely in evidence, indi-
vidual teachers or training in individ-
ual homes are to be credited. Time
spent in acquiring manners is, accord
ing to some, time taken from learning
how to acquire money. These two
things, an independent atmosphere III
which independence has run to seed,
and the development Of the material
side of things to the exclusion Of the
gentler virtues, are responsible for
that of which the governor general
of Canada complains. The fault is not
with the children, but with those who
draw up the program for their schol-
astic training in the primary schools
and later tolerate the results, as cyl
denced in the rowdyism which often
shows itself even in the highest seats
If learning in the land. Undoubtedly
Earl Grey was right when he said
that in some parts of Ontario children
are without manners. And might he
not have extended his statement?
Might it not be said that in many
parts of the continent the children
are without manners? Yet the chill
dren are not to blame. The blame
lies for the most part with those in
whose hands education lies, whether
it be that of the school or of the
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