There is a common complaint among adults when talking about a new generation of children.
"They're rude and presumptive, self-absorbed and unappreciative."
Those are the major points, anyway.
For adults who are reading this, be warned that your parents weren't always happy with your attitude either.
Nevertheless, the phrases "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am" are seldom heard these days, and there are legions of young people who seem ruthless in the pursuit of rudeness.
The staff at the Warren Area Elementary Center have taken a week to stress things like manners, polite speech and behavior, even kindness.
Who knows if the effort will have a lasting effect on sufficient numbers of children that we adults may notice some change in the attributes that drive us crazy, but at least it's an effort.
So, why is this being presented by the schools? Isn't this the role of parents and therefore an intrusion into the parent/child relationship?
Answer 1: It's being presented in the schools because, apparently, it isn't adequately taught elsewhere.
Answer 2: No.
For those who complain about schools overstepping their bounds in the fostering of social and cultural mores, let us remind them that in the "good old days" manners and decorum, kindness and compassion were common lessons in school, just as a few classes in penmanship were also de rigueur.
Are we pining for the days of blackboards, inkwells and one-room schools?
No.
But we do appreciate the effort at WAEC to restore some of the manners an older generation took for granted.