Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-09
THE DECLINE OF MANNERS
knows what to do IN a social emers-

ency.
| Courses In Courtesy
Employees in large stores and tele-
phone exchanges are given courses in
the courtesy due to people with whom
they must talk. II 1t 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 people in employment indicates
a gap in educat tion. Mothers once
taught their children all the phases Of
etiquette. 1t now seems they teach
almost nothing along this line. A few
| rules of behavior are perhaps insisted
upon. but that the average child re-
mains unaware of any real reason for
passing behind people instead of rush
ing in front of them no one can
doubt.
There are various reasons why
ideals of courtesy are no longer part
give the child chance to develop his
individuality for himself is very
strong. Then, the mothers are busy
with many new interests-careers, Of
flee work. clubs, athletics With the
| lack of time or inclination to teach
children at home. there has como
feeling that the public school should
be responsible for all phases of edu-
alton.
The schools have already taken up
the question of health In crusades
with records kept of teeth brushed.
baths. hours of sleep, and hours OF
exercise The schools, too, are teach
ing the rules of safety first" to show
children how to guard against acct
dents. Now 1t looks as IL tho public
schools would have to give serious at
| tention 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 pre-
lsents serious difficulties. Tho home.
where the child is treated altogether
as an individual, Is the most natural
place for him to learn how to act to-
ward other individuals. And too. the
school teacher has certain course to
follow, so much arithmetic and geog-
raphy to teach. She has little time to
explain why one should not shove but
| let somebody else go first.
How Manners Are Taught
But as children are not getting this
instruction at home. tho matter is
being forced on the rchools. Some
as in spelling. Situations arc described
by the teacher and acted out by
few pupils before the class. Other
schools use moving pictures to show
how courtesies and discourtesies really
! look.
In still other schools formal lessons
| in manners are not approved.
Tho children are taught incidentally
whenever a situation arises. Bono or
| the school officials think that children
cannot bs expected to learn how IN
deal with one another courteously SO
| long schools are conducted like
pcnitentiaries. They think, for In
stance. that school children should not
he herded into lines when tho bell
| rings and marched upstairs like con-
victs with teachers watching TO SEQ
| that no one speaks to his neighbor.
| The ideal, they say, IA to have the
children como up quietly In groups as
/ they would enter thester. or church
or any other plnce where people gath
or. This is practice for situations
which occur in everyday life, whils
marching in set line is not. In this
connection the teacher is supposed to
stress tho idea of courtesy to others.
This lesson is being taught in differ
ent ways and to different cxtents in
! almost every school system. Mostly It
| is an incidental subject brought up
only when the occasion demands.
J The effect on the class depends en-
tirely on the teachers personality.
Ono educational expert with whom we
have talked thinks that teachers
should themselves he given courses In
personal relationships-meanine court
esy. how to teach II. and what to dc
In tho course on pedagogy. He also
| thinks that tho parents should be
urged to cooperate with the tea chers
by instilling some Of tho fundamsnt-
ais OF courtesy in tho home. with
both teachers and parents setting an
example for the children. this educa-
tor thinks We should no longer need
to worry over possible return 10
primitive selashnoss.