Monday, January 31, 2011

China's Courtesy Classes (Blog #2)

Caitlin Brewer
Blog #2
1/31/11
China's Courtesy Classes
Word count: 362

In this article, the value of manners is shown greatly in China by putting classes before and after school to teach common courtesy to their children in elementary and middle schools. Courtesy being taught will show the virtues of China and also show the achievements and benefits of civilization from a global perspective.

The different schooling categories have divided what will be taught to attain these skills of manners. The students will be taught skills, some such as to use a courteous language, respect for their elders and ethnic customs of minorities, have polite conversations with their commoners and foreigners, have correct etiquette on the phone, in emails, text-messages, and letters. When these students have achieved that knowledge of being courteous, the education obtained should be used to master principles of holding conversations, dressing properly, speech etiquette for delivering speeches or for a debate, and keeping proper distance when queuing or while in an elevator.

Some of these courtesy tips I think are beneficial and are great to install into our children so when they reach adulthood they are well prepared to take on the world, but some of these are silly, such as being too close to someone in an elevator, most human beings can tell when they are too close to someone, unless their culture or disability prevents it from even being seen as an issue. Clean clothes are a necessity, there is no need to have an etiquette lesson on it, just show and tell them how to be clean, and still that is up to the parents not the teachers.

I feel that maybe we should take this courtesy course as a template for our own children in American society to teach them the proper techniques for writing and speech, respect for their elders, and to be polite with everyone they come in contact with. I think this would help save America for tomorrow due to the rude, cocky selfishness that our children and even some of us today are acting like. Take a stand and teach your children the values your grandparents were taught so that a teacher, someone whom you just met, does not have to.


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