School grump 2. Lessons in manners

[GROWLER]

Just heard something on the radio (NOT nicked before some wise knob cracks that one )about the government are handing out 14 million quid to secondary schools to enable then to include 'lessons in manners' onto the curricullum.
Is it just me, or is this smacking just a smidge of a classic example of closing the barn doors after the 'orse has bolted?
This Nulabour shite trying to make out that they are doing something positive to make society a better place for us all to live?

THIS as I have said privately for many years should have been included in school lessons many many years ago, from primary school upwards, NOT just secondary, as it should be at home.

What pray, is the point of having loads of qualifications if you can't conduct yourself in a decent and proper manner, and showing respect towards others?

[The Moan Ranger]

Agreed, wholeheartedly.

[Snoopy]

No argument from me.
Wallop the little sods until they learn to say please and thank you ~ just for starters.

Out of four grandchildren only one ever writes a thank you for gifts sent at Birthdays and Christmas ~ though I grant she now texts or phones but she is almost 14 so that is understandable. The other three have never said thank you for anything. Even when they have been at the house and been asked if they would like something like a coke or lemonade all they do is say "Yeah" .... Never once have I heard any of them say please or thank you. It saddens me that they are all the children of my eldest son and three years ago I informed them by letter to expect no more from me until they learned to say please and thank you. I have not heard from any of them since but then I haven't heard from my son for many years either. 

[GROWLER]

No argument from me.
Wallop the little sods until they learn to say please and thank you ~ just for starters.

Out of four grandchildren only one ever writes a thank you for gifts sent at Birthdays and Christmas ~ though I grant she now texts or phones but she is almost 14 so that is understandable. The other three have never said thank you for anything. Even when they have been at the house and been asked if they would like something like a coke or lemonade all they do is say "Yeah" .... Never once have I heard any of them say please or thank you. It saddens me that they are all the children of my eldest son and three years ago I informed them by letter to expect no more from me until they learned to say please and thank you. I have not heard from any of them since but then I haven't heard from my son for many years either. 

THAT is SO SHIT for you Snoops.
WHY FFS?

[Snoopy]

I blame his mother 

[GROWLER]

What pray, is the point of having loads of qualifications if you can't conduct yourself in a decent and proper manner, and showing respect towards others?

Just re-read this and thought to meself ...like...that reminds me of a familiar designation in todays industries.











MANAGEMENT!

[GROWLER]

I blame his mother 

Ex missus?

[Snoopy]

I blame his mother 

Ex missus?

Yup! One scary lady

[Barman]

Snoopy - that's appalling,    not just the childrens behaviour but your sons too (sorry I don't mean to offend but that is my honest opinion)

My sisters children are a little similar in description HOWEVER when they are in our home they know manners are expected and if not displayed they don't get..........Sometimes, if I am honest again, it does add a little frizzion between my sister and I but am not doing it because I'm a nasty old biddy (have a few more years to grow into that role I trust) but because I really do care about my nieces and nephews and EVERYBODY learns from the examples they are set - that's what the role of parenting is (or used to be anyway) about after all for goodness sake - it ain't rocket science!

If I had a suggestion to offer you it would be to perhaps send them a family copy of The Water-Babies (Charles Kingsley) circ 1863. It's a book that I truly remember from my young(er) years and the main character Mrsdoasyuwouldbedoneby (no sniggering there pleaseeeeee) gives wonderful examples of why 'manners maketh man'. If you don't know of the book, the following, perhaps a little pretentious review of this classic,is something that might pique your interest:

The Rev. Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), social reformer, novelist, history professor, and muscular Christian, was also a naturalist who corresponded with Charles Darwin over the new theory of evolution. His fairy tale The Water-Babies (1863) combines many of these enthusiasms in a tale of how a little chimney-sweep goes backward in evolution when he is wicked, and forwards when he does as he would be done by.

Atcually now I've remembered how fab this book was and how much I really loved it (even when I was a little tot myself) I'm going to track a copy (Ebay or smilar here I come) and put in store in readiness to read to my own grandchildren when they duly appear sometime in the probable next 5/10 years  -

Chin up Snoopy... 

[Snoopy]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm over the hurt now and frankly have convinced myself that I'll not be bothered if I never see any of them again. I have a "new family" (maybe that's the problem) who are polite, pleasant and for me a pleasure to be with. The others have chosen the path they wish to follow and whilst I would not say my door is locked it has been now firmly closed and they'd need to knock pretty loudly to get back through it now.
Life is too short and I have moved on.

[ice and a slice]

Snoopy - that's appalling,    not just the childrens behaviour but your sons too (sorry I don't mean to offend but that is my honest opinion)

My sisters children are a little similar in description HOWEVER when they are in our home they know manners are expected and if not displayed they don't get..........Sometimes, if I am honest again, it does add a little frizzion between my sister and I but am not doing it because I'm a nasty old biddy (have a few more years to grow into that role I trust) but because I really do care about my nieces and nephews and EVERYBODY learns from the examples they are set - that's what the role of parenting is (or used to be anyway) about after all for goodness sake - it ain't rocket science!

If I had a suggestion to offer you it would be to perhaps send them a family copy of The Water-Babies (Charles Kingsley) circ 1863. It's a book that I truly remember from my young(er) years and the main character Mrsdoasyuwouldbedoneby (no sniggering there pleaseeeeee) gives wonderful examples of why 'manners maketh man'. If you don't know of the book, the following, perhaps a little pretentious review of this classic,is something that might pique your interest:

The Rev. Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), social reformer, novelist, history professor, and muscular Christian, was also a naturalist who corresponded with Charles Darwin over the new theory of evolution. His fairy tale The Water-Babies (1863) combines many of these enthusiasms in a tale of how a little chimney-sweep goes backward in evolution when he is wicked, and forwards when he does as he would be done by.

Atcually now I've remembered how fab this book was and how much I really loved it (even when I was a little tot myself) I'm going to track a copy (Ebay or smilar here I come) and put in store in readiness to read to my own grandchildren when they duly appear sometime in the probable next 5/10 years  -

Chin up Snoopy... 

A formidable bar lady Auntie type person!!  And quite right too.

I agree that manners should be learnt but to be honest my 2 (11 and 13) are very well mannered even if I do say so myself having had the importance of maners beaten into them since birth.  It's up to the parents and this kind of attitude has to be taught at home.  The problem with school 'lessons' is that it seems theoretical and distant from 'real life'.  It also won't help if the little cherub after having his lessons on table manners goes home to find his slobby parents sitting in front of the telly with their fast food dinners swearing and spitting food everywhere!

[Bar Wench]

By secondary school it's too late. Having seen the behaviour of the kids at Mr Wench's school fair a few weeks ago I was horrified. And having since heard tales of parents evening it is all too clear where the blame lies. 

[Darwins Selection]

By secondary school it's too late. Having seen the behaviour of the kids at Mr Wench's school fair a few weeks ago I was horrified. And having since heard tales of parents evening it is all too clear where the blame lies. 

Who messed up the parents though? (or Grandparents)

[GROWLER]

By secondary school it's too late.

So how come these grossly overpaid tit heads that WE elected don't seem to see it that way?
It's too late now imo.
 Bad manners and all the inherent crap that surrounds it has been bred into the population.
Acceptable behaviour to the minority...a minority of about 10 million and rapidly growing.

[Bar Wench]

Who knows?

Although at Mr Wench's school it is the admin staff that cause the most problems. Police were called last week as one of them attacked the six foot built like a brick shit house caretaker!