THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Chinese schoolchildren are to sit mandatory manners classes in an attempt to smooth some of the rougher edges off modern Chinese society, the country's ministry of education has announced.From primary school onwards, Chinese children will now receive lessons in the art of queuing, good table manners, how to respect their elders and betters and the correct way to write letters, emails and even send SMS messages.
Older children will be tutored in the arts of introducing oneself to strangers, dealing politely with members of the opposite sex, making public speeches and the rudiments of dealing with foreigners and (to Chinese eyes, at least) their strange ways.
"The goal is to let students know that China is a country with a long history of civilisation, rituals and cultures," said the guidelines which were published on the ministry's website. >>> Peter Foster, Beijing | Monday, January 24, 2011
China is leading the way. I believe that we would do well to follow suit. Good manners are also sadly lacking in Western society today. It’s all part of the downfall of our civilisation. We, too, need to do something to stop the rot. – © Mark
