NationStates Jolt Archive

Now wait a second before you get out your sawed-off bible launchers and wheatgrass smoothy machineguns and listen, I think this proposal could be bipartisan and a good way to get the youth of this country to be more enthusiastic and culturally responsible.

I think schools should have at some point a mandatory class that teaches kids the basics of being a good person in general. Nothing religious, but things like common courtesies such as holding open doors, table manners, respect for elders and peers, etc. Some parts on making them consider their actions in more detail and from an objective view, so people have second thoughts on beating up their girlfriend to abort a pregnancy. A part on politics that teaches how to see through propaganda, encourages research into a voting choice, and promotes individual action and suggestions to the government. I don't want these classes to be like the Hitler youth, but just something that teaches responsibility in society. If it is deemed a worthy idea, both sides will have equal imput on its contents and it will not be implemented until they can agree. If they can't, then it wont. Also, this class shouldn't affect a person's grade, although I guess the class could vote on who they think is the best and a merit reward could go on their record.

Admittingly it could be construed as social engineering and the crazies would have a field day accusing it of brainwashing, but from a logical standpoint I think anyone could see some benefit in this. I'm not saying that parents shouldn't do this already, but its obvious that many don't. I hate having to use the government to teach society related things that should be taught by parents, but it could honestly do a lot of good if properly done.

Man, I want a sawed-off Bible launcher. Where do you get one of those?

Brazil had citizenship classes, and it may still have. Now go and watch City of God, and tell me if it helped.

It can't hurt.

Brazil had citizenship classes, and it may still have. Now go and watch City of God, and tell me if it helped.
Whats City of God?

I don't know about table manners, etc. but I think general lessons on ethics would be a good thing, just get kids to think about others. That way, at least, they're less likely to turn to crime if they fail academically.

Whats City of God?

A film, the original title is Cidade de Deus. Try google for City of God, and it should come up.

Ah, the importance of table manners. Because knowing which side of the plate to put the spoons on and which side to put the forks on and which side to put the knives on...will make you a better person.

I think citizen classes should be awarded according to the IQ of the individual.
And everyone with a crap-coloured citizenship should be shot.
That way the nation would be smarter and would learn to fake their citizenships in order not to be shot.

These classes may help, but IMHO it's not the government's place to teach manners

Dude! WTF??? Have all the parents abdicated their responsibilities??? :headbang:

Dude! WTF??? Have all the parents abdicated their responsibilities??? :headbang:

Some parents have no manners to teach.

Some parts on making them consider their actions in more detail and from an objective view, so people have second thoughts on beating up their girlfriend to abort a pregnancy. A part on politics that teaches how to see through propaganda, encourages research into a voting choice, and promotes individual action and suggestions to the government.I think my school had that by combining it with geography and calling it social studies (and the rest was in health class obviously). But honestly, who goes to school to learn? Stupid people that's who! (I'm joking ;)

Dude! WTF??? Have all the parents abdicated their responsibilities??? :headbang:
Most of them, yes.

I will not be force fed chivalry. I refuse to be taught the sexist ideals presented in the social aspect of chivalry.

Also, citizenship classes will turn into propaganda machines for the government faster than you can say Joseph Goebbels.

Nope, no Hitler Youth for me.

Brazil had citizenship classes, and it may still have. Now go and watch City of God, and tell me if it helped.

Let's be clear here - Brazil had Citizenship classes in which no-one thaught us table manners (we have none, BTW). All they taught in those classes was 'how wonderful the military government was to all of us children of this wonderful nation'. It is said these classes were as CIA sponsored as the military government itself

A film, the original title is Cidade de Deus. Try google for City of God, and it should come up.


i really liked that movie, really well done, look for it in blockbuster, makes me want to deal drugs!

Let's be clear here - Brazil had Citizenship classes in which no-one thaught us table manners (we have none, BTW). All they taught in those classes was 'how wonderful the military government was to all of us children of this wonderful nation'. It is said these classes were as CIA sponsored as the military government itself

Blah come on man, blame your government, not the CIA, thats lame...\


It wasnt our fault it was the CIA :rolleyes:

Let's be clear here - Brazil had Citizenship classes in which no-one thaught us table manners (we have none, BTW). All they taught in those classes was 'how wonderful the military government was to all of us children of this wonderful nation'. It is said these classes were as CIA sponsored as the military government itself

So particularly forceful classes, with clearly defined standards of behaviour had no great effect. This is more or less the point I was making. The kids will go, listen maybe, and almost all of them will completely ignore the content of the class.

It wasnt our fault it was the CIA

Ôps, I didn't mean that - I meant, It *was* our fault, but the US's money :)

I think its a good idea. Though yes, I don't think its the government's job to be doing this, but apparently the parents aren't. Something needs to be done. Things can't stay as they are. If they do... well I'd just not like to think about that.


Stupid ignorant kids :sniper: <-- Me

Waste of tax dollars and just plain creepy.

Culture usually dictates the level of manners in a society so I don't know what effect (even if it is possible) that legislating people's non-criminal behaviour is gonna do. May even cause a backlash if 'The Man' does it.

The FCC for example will not solve anything with its excessive censorship and will eventually turn people away from 'good behaviour' as their way of protest.

If you want people to behave then either do it with FEAR or set the example.

If you want people to behave then either do it with FEAR or set the example.

Fear does not make anyone do anything for real... people in fear do what they are supposed to in front of you and make fun of it when you turn your back

How about a mandatory orgy class, you'd have to be reasonably informed about all kinds of cultures and diseases to graduate.

How about a mandatory orgy class, you'd have to be reasonably informed about all kinds of cultures and diseases to graduate.

Hmm.... interesting...

How about a mandatory orgy class, you'd have to be reasonably informed about all kinds of cultures and diseases to graduate.

never heard of those in Brazil... or is it because I went to a religious school?

Well I think the idea of doing it this way would be to set an example, because no one pays attention to the existing ones. The crazy (hate to say neocon because no one takes the term seriously) government is already trying to lead by fear, but it doesn't seem to be working towards anything but giving them more power.

I don't think these classes should last for more than one grade level, drilling it over and over would be completely corrupt, but doing it only once so people have at least been exposed to it might not be so bad. I'm not sure of the age, it couldn't be too young because no advanced concepts could be taught, and it can't be too old because they'll already be basically set up.

Anyway, to those that disagree with the idea, do you think it would actually worsen conditions? Any alternatives you have in mind to stabilize society? Do people have the right to be assholes regardless of the dangers posed to civilization in general?

Hmm...

That's realy a loaded question. I'm not realy sure if there are any truely universal behaviar standards, aside from don't kill people or steal things. A class like the one you described wouldn't really have any big affect on the way America operates. Sure, 20 years down the line you'd have a population that held the doors open for little old ladies, but what good would that do if everyone spent their free time staring at the TV watching mindless drivel?

Realy, a class that taught kids how to evaluate the materials presented to them and draw their own decisions would work better. The entire idealogy our government runs on is democracy. Beleive it or not, democracy actually requires thought on the behalf of the voters. If people didn't properly analise everything shot their way, they may be duped by clever campaign tactics, and thus you have a group of people who abuse the system.

Just on a side note: The last presidential election was pretty dirty--a lot of false acusations were flung all over the place. Suprisingly a lot of it was lapped up by the masses, and the election became more of a form of entertainment. On of the most shocking ads that I saw surfaced somewhere in the south--"Librals want to enforce gay marrage, but ban the Bible" or something to that effect. I'd be willing to wager that most of the voters out there (both Bush and Kerry supporters) didn't question their beleifs opinions at all, they just accepted what they were taught from their youth.

And let's face it: the stuff we let our kids absorb isn't the most thought-provoking material out there. Mindless cartoon shows that support mass hysteria for a fad, and come with all sorts of products that you just NEED, such as game cards and action figures. Even the majority of the literature that's published for kids doesn't have any higher meaning--it's just stories for stories sake, mass produced for a cash cow, such as the Goosebumps series.

One of the most powerfull nations in the world is filled with Mall-shoppers who spend their free time watching TV or talking about it.

:( The world is doomed.

I think a class that teaches about propaganda and some phychology would be very useful, but table manners and such wouldn't go over very well. In Ohio in first grade our teachers showed us a manners video. The kids remembered it for a while, but it eventually faded from memory...

I believe that such a class should really be simple phychology and sociology, to teach kids that maybe, just maybe, everything they hear on TV isn't the truth. This should help them make more responsible decisions as to who to vote for later on in life, hopefully creating a better country.

It helps but it's certainly not the solution to ignorance.

Example: A lot of people are not very good at mathematics, there should be mandatory math classes.

Fear does not make anyone do anything for real... people in fear do what they are supposed to in front of you and make fun of it when you turn your back

All the more reason to make your presence all consuming.

Random house searches are fun! :D

Oooh! Oooh! Gotta have gruesomely painful public executions too!

Brazil had citizenship classes, and it may still have. Now go and watch City of God, and tell me if it helped.

Canada needs citizenship class. Nobody in my class passed the test.

Though that is due in large part because nobody had a diploma.

Japan has "Moral Education" classes.
I'm not so sure the vlasses have any real effect.

This paper has quite a bit of detail:
Moral Education in Japan; Implications for American Schools (http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/taku77/papers/thes595.htm)

A class on general accept mannerisms and decorum would be a good thing.

^wow, even though Japan is really weird in practice, I think they've got the right idea with their moral education system. Sadly it says the system was redesigned and inspected by Americans after WW2(its quite awesome anyway), but that means we didn't learn anything from them......