MANNERS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE
By James Marwood
Children and teenagers get a bad rap when it
comes to manners. Ever since Plato ‘The
youth of today’ have been described as an
unruly, greedy and selfish lot, not paying the
due deference to their elders and above all
being impatient.
on the train. Not just helping him with his
bag or to his seat, but talking to him,
listening and then helping him find the
number for his son on his smartphone.
More than many would have done and for
no other reason than good manners.
Of course, this is not entirely the case. As I
travel or spend time with family and friends
I see many examples of young people
exhibiting thoughtfulness and care for those
around them. It may be that these are
noticeable because they’re unusual but I’m
not sure that’s correct. If I were to analyse
the incidents I see I’m sure I’d see adults and
younger people acting with about the same
levels of manners and rudeness.
I see this as well with my godchildren. They
are well mannered and polite without being
any less fun or delightfully child-like. They
naturally talk to those around them, share
their toys and snacks and are generally a
delight to be around. They run and shout
and have fun like any child, but they know
not to interrupt, to share and to talk politely
to people of any age.
There are particular examples that stick in
the mind. For example a week or so back I
saw a young man in his mid-teens take care
of a disoriented and struggling older chap
This last one is especially important. Many
of the people I’ve met who struggle with
social interaction and with speaking to
others seem to have become stuck with this
at a young age. They were never taught to
Junior Gentleman
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