IT saddens me to have to say this but observing our children today makes me realise how there has been a shocking disregard for basic mannerism over just the last one to two generations.
One can’t help but notice that the issue actually sticks out like a sore thumb.
It is easy to use the children as the scapegoat, however, the root of the problem lies with ignorant parents who couldn’t care less about teaching their children at home and the epidemic has become the problem of victimised teachers, the police and our courts.
I also feel that there has been a misinterpretation by children and many adults over children’s rights as human beings and children are now using this as a tool to get away with parent and teacher psychological abuse.
Children need to understand that these laws came about to protect children who were being physically abused.
There is a difference when a child is being disciplined without being abused, keeping their rights in mind, and they need to know the difference.
All in all, the solution goes back to the home but seeing that we are producing more ill-mannered children than well-mannered maybe we need to introduce basic mannerism and etiquette classes in schools which should include table manners as well.
These should also be taught to training teachers so that the effect is felt throughout our education system.
I would like to finish with a story from our well-known shores of Savusavu.
During a bus check one morning an LTA officer hailed down one of our school buses. Expecting to see students half-hanging out the bus he noticed just a handful of seemingly well-disciplined children sitting as still as statues at varying spots throughout the bus.
With creased brows the officer smiled at the driver and climbed the stairs. To his utter surprise and dismay the balance of the passengers were sitting on the floor on the isle. His gaze turned to the driver and questioningly he asked, “Na cava qo maitau?” (What’s happening here?)
“Sa soli vei ira na dabedabe me ra dabeca io o ira na gone qo, ra kaba i ke, ra kaba i kea! E ra sega talega ni dabe vakadua. Ra lade i ke, ra lade i kea! Ke sa va ya na nodra vakasama vatakei na nodratou varau, io, e ra sa na dabe ga i ra!” (The seats were made for the children to sit on. Instead of sitting on them, however, they prefer to climb over the seats and move from seat to seat. So the only logical place left for them to use is the floor!)
The same driver stopped at the police station on another morning and dropped off a few mis-behaved students for the police to deal with.
He is now a feared driver in the sense that his standards are now respected by children who get on his bus.
It’s one thing to concentrate on the road bearing in mind the safety of the children in the bus. It’s another to have to discipline the children as well.’
I say we need more drivers like him!
