Good Manners!
Wish all children a happy new year,
What
are Good Manners? A person with good manners shows respect towards the feelings
and sentiments of others living in the surroundings. He/she never
differentiates people and shows equal regard to everyone. Modesty, humbleness,
kindness, and courtesy are the essential traits of a well-behaved person.
In
the 14th century, William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, founded two great
educational institutions- New College, Oxford, and the great public school at
Winchester. He gave to both the same motto: "Manners maketh Man". In
those days the word "manners" did not mean mere outward behaviour, as
it does now, but what we should call good conduct or morality. By his motto,
the wise Bishop meant that it is good moral conduct based on sound moral
principles that make a man. So, he did not regard education as the mere getting
of knowledge and mental training, but mainly as moral training. In other words,
he recognized that the only thing that mattered in life was character.
This
being so, moral education is all important. From their earliest years, children
must be taught the difference between right and wrong, and trained to love and
follow what is right and hate and avoid what is wrong. Such training means the
formation of character on the right lines. Its object is to bring children up
in such a way that they will grow up to be truth-loving, honest, brave, pure-minded,
and unselfish men, and women.
Good
manners mean having polite or well-bred social behaviour by the people. Having
good manners in life matters a lot for living a social life. It should be
inculcated especially in children from childhood. Behaving in a good or bad
manner is the most important part of human nature and life.
Home
is the best school for moral education. Schoolmasters cannot get into such
close touch with their pupils as parents can with their children. Nor can they
appeal to their love and affection as good fathers and mothers can. Moreover,
moral education must begin in the earliest years of the child, long before he
can go to school. And these early years are the most important. As a Roman
Catholic Cardinal once said: "Give us the children up to seven years old,
and you can have them the rest of their lives."
We
should dedicate ourselves diligently to building a good and healthy equation in
the community. We should cultivate polite behaviour towards others and must
have ears to listen to others with patience. This is how the people will love
us and remain in their hearts and minds.
The
methods of moral training are teaching, example and punishment. The child must
be taught what is right by moral lessons, advice, and warning; and he must be
shown what is right by good example. So, there is a great responsibility laid
upon parents to live a good life before their children; for, example is better
than precept. Only when teaching and example fail should punishment be resorted
to; but it has its place in moral training. At the same time, kindness,
understanding and tact will often do more than punishment in keeping a boy
straight. Sincere religion, too, is a great aid to morality; for one who has
learnt to love and obey the good God wants to do right and be good. True
religion was finely summed up by an ancient Hebrew prophet: "What doth the
LORD require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God?"
To
practice good manners, look the person you are speaking with directly in the
eyes and smile. Make sure to keep your gaze friendly and avoid staring at them.
Phrases like “It's nice to meet you” or “I'm glad we could talk” are polite
ways to show respect and appreciation.
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