From the Home to the School

Star Q

i.  Blueberry and White Chocolate Muffins

ii.  Sambutan Maulidur Rasul

The Malay Mail -6/02/13

I never thought that we would actually need a school or any kind of institution to teach us good manners!  But apparently the news stated the need for such an educational institution with such urgency.

I have always felt that any kind of good manners or behavior should be taught from young; meaning that learning all these good values should begin at home, with the parents playing a prominent role.  After all, it is easier to instill good values in young children at the tender age of, say as early as two years rather than wait for them to reach the age of twenty (when they would already have their own perception of what they deem to be good or bad behavior!)

As with the skills of acquiring language which takes place at a very young age, good moral values like good manners should also start from young.  Many daily examples set by parents (done covertly) can in fact become good examples to young children.   Parents, when asking their children to do something, can always start with the word "Please" before continuing with the imperative; followed by a "Thank you" after the task is completed.  Consequently, this will teach the children politeness.

When meeting people who are older than them, or when visitors come calling to their homes, parents should encourage their young children to greet them, or with the Malays, parents should encourage the shaking of hands (or bersalam)  Eventually, this will help the children to respect their elders.

A continuous and concerted effort by parents will ensure that children when they become adults,  continue to practice good behavior instilled in them by their parents when they were young.  Teaching good manners should not even wait for children to reach secondary school (as with the 'learning' of subjects like Moral and Civics)  because if children do not see any of these values practiced in their homes by their parents when they were young,  it will be an uphill task for teachers or anyone else to leave any kind of lasting impression on them.