Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-09

pleasing tone of voice, just consideration for the
rights of others. tact in dealing with people, are
which iubricate the machinery of everyday
existence. These are the things, we believe
which people are really thinking of when the,
talk of the decline of manners.
Some of them-cleanliness and table manners
especially-are undoubtedly stressed today more
than in the past. The dandy, fourishing his
plumed hat at the approach of a lady though
nothing of eating with his knife or his fingers
and wiping his hands a~fterward on the table
cloth. Our table manners are not always pune.
tilious, but the tendency seems to be toward
greater regard for the prophecies of eating.
AS for cleanliness. that is becoming a slogan
In this century society folk do not find it neces-
sary to wear powerful perfumes to conceal the
need for a bath. The working man has no fear
OF catching cold by exposing his body TO water
Even immigrants from countries where clothing
is sewed on in thick layers, and remains intact
tor months, are rapidly learning through their
children In the schools that cleanliness Is desir-
able.
But if the average citizen has progressed
beyond the stage where he gargles his soup and
sees no sense in brushing his teeth, he is not
always so enlightened in other matters Of COM
mon courtesy. He would not think of affront-
ing a friend by visiting him with a soiHd collar
on, but he will affront him by talking in a
shrill or resounding voice which assaults the
ear-drums of those close to him.. He would not
say in the middle of u conversation, Here, you
don't know as much about this as I do. Let
me talk" But he gives the selfsamei impress
sion by frequently interrupting in the middle of
=" ~ ~ SAP'otA as oiuHOA
on a subject.
There is a type OF modern man who seems
an outward sign of a heart of gold. Other
business men have cultivated an abrupt, snappy
manner with the idea that it is a sign of
efficiency. An office is no place for tea-drinking
manners, they will tell you.
But the pendulum Is swinging back. The
business mems magazines that preach efficiency
in all it's obvious and subtle phases, are con-
stantly printing articles by successful men
how courtesy Is a business asset. Some
of tact and courtesy during an interview. A few
employment managers 90 so far as to set traps
for the applicant to see II he knows what to do
in a social emergency.
Courses. in Courtesy.
Employees in large stores and telephone ex-
changes are given courses in the courtesy due
to people with whom they must talk. If it were
possible there might logically be courtesy
courses for the people who use the telephone
and go shopping.
The need for such courses given to grown
ton Mothers once taught their children all the
phases of etiquette. 1t now seems they teach
nothing along this line. A few rules of
behavior are perhaps insisted upon, but that the
average child remains unaware Of any real
reason for passing behind people instead OF
rushing in front of them no one can doubt.
There are various reasons why ideals OF
are no longer part Of home training.
The sentiment to give the child a chance to
develop his individuality for himself is very
strong. Then, the mothers are busy with many
new nterests--careers office work, clubs, ath-
lctics. With the lack of time or inclination to
teach children at home, there has come a feel
ing that the public school should be responsible
for all phases of e%ucation.
The schools have already taken up the ques-
of health in crusades with records kept OF
brushed, baths, hours of sleep. and hours
of exercise. The schools, too. are teaching the
to guard against accidents. Now it looks as if
The public schools would have to give serious
to courses in such subjects as tact
consideration. and how to act on the street.
A great many schools have already assumed
this extra burden. 1t presents serious difficult
ties. The home, where the child is treated
as an individual, Is the most natural
place for him to learn how to act toward other
individuals. And, too, the school teacher has
a certain course to follow; h so M 1itt aslt tin1s &c
explain why one should not shove but let some
body else go first.
How Manners are Taught.
But as children are not getting this instruction
at home, the matter is being forced on the
Some have definite lessons in manners.
just as in spelling. Situations are described by
thu class. Other schools use moving pictures
to show how courtesies and discourtesies really
look.
In still other schools formal lessons in man
ners are not approved. The children are taught
incidentally whenever a situation arises. Some
Of the school officials think that children cannot
be expected to learn how to deal with one
courteously so long as schools are con-
Quoted like peniten4iaries. They think. for
instance, that school children sshould not be
herded into lines when the bell rings ana
NJ marched upstairs like convicts with teachers(
to see that no one speaks to his
The ideal, they say, is to have the
come up quietly in groups as they
would enter a theater, or church, or any other
place where people gather. This is practice for
which occur in everyday life, while
in a. set line is not. In this connec-
the teacher is supposed to stress the idea
of courtesy to others. This lesson is being
in different ways and to different eXtents
in almost every school system. Mostly 1t is an
Incidental subject brought up only when the
occasion demands,
The effect on the class depends entirely on
the teachers personality. One educational
expert with whom we have talked thinks that
teachers should themselves be given courses in
personal MISUNDERSTANDING courtesy, how
to teach it, and. what to do in all sorts of
situations not covered in the course on pedagogy.