Back to School Manners

Oh, wow. Summer is over and if you or your kids are not back in school yet, that will soon come. Modern Manners Guy here, and I’m sure there has been a certain amount of excitement mixed in with a double scoop of weeping and gnashing of teeth as the new school year gets into gear! I don’t really expect to help anyone become the most popular kid at school with this episode, but if you, young student, lend me your earbuds for a few minutes, you just might be the most mannerly. Don’t jump to the next podcast!

Are the Manners Tips Only For Students? No.

Now, you might just think it sounds a little dorky to talk about having manners at school, but I can promise it’s bomb. New kids at school, the person you are most interested in dating, and your Home Living teacher will certainly notice if you decide to do a few simple things and practice manners on campus.

Note: Anyone listening to this who is not a student should pay close attention, as each of these tips are just simply good to live by.

How to Have Good Manners Around New People

The new school year is often the most daunting for those students who have just moved to the area and are new to the school. If you’ve been at a certain school for a while, offer to help someone who looks new find their classes. Then spend time getting to know them. A little effort on your part could make someone’s first day of school a much more positive experience. If you’re the new one, look around for folks who also look like they aren’t really sure where they are going. You never know! You might make a friend.

And if someone new approaches you to ask for help getting to class, take it upon yourself to get a name and offer your own. Then, over time, make a concerted effort to remember that name and get to know the person. Find out where they are from, what kind of movies they like, what their least favorite cafeteria food is, etc. That doesn’t have to happen right away, but it shouldn’t take two years.

And here is the key. This tip will help you become someone who will excel the rest of your life:

If someone doesn’t like the same things you like, find out why they like what they do and think about giving it a shot. I’m not saying to hit the Rob Zombie marathon if you have a weak constitution. At the very least respect what they find important and relate to them through those things.

There will certainly be folks you don’t have much in common with. You won’t need to spend a lot of time reinforcing the knowledge that you probably aren’t going to hang out. But continue to be kind. Saying “Hi” in the hall or remembering another friend with whom they just might hit it off are certainly other ways to be mannerly.

School Manners: Quick Hits

Now for some quick and dirty school manners tips! 

I would like to put emphasis back on something. Treat your teachers with respect. You might not need to call them “ma’am” and “sir”, but you should at least address them with “yes” instead of “yeah” or “what.” Listen and set a good example for those around you. Your teacher has enough to deal with trying to teach all the other punks how to do long division without you causing problems too. The bonus in the situation is that even the most grumpy instructor will probably notice your efforts and treat you with respect as well.

The Manners of Pranks at School

School is often the setting for many a practical joke. I say go ahead and pull practical jokes. Pull them on your teachers and your friends. Pull them all you want since that is part of teenage bonding. Just make sure your pranks are not malicious and hurtful. If you’re going to move something, get the laugh and then put it back. And if your prank is messy, stick around to see the person’s face and then help clean up as a show of good will.

Someone will probably play a prank on you at some point. The way you respond to this will be the difference in how the perp sees you and how you see yourself. If you give it a minute and find the humor, you will be able to remember the prank fondly instead of with remorse. But if the prank is harmful or destructive, do your darndest to figure out who did it and turn them in. Don’t be a punching bag, but have a short memory. Holding a grudge against someone is only hurtful to you.

The way you treat others as you are working your way through the potentially difficult school years is the foundation for how you will treat others as an adult. Plus, it’s the way you will be remembered by your classmates after you all graduate and head off to college. When it comes time for employment and your name comes up in a meeting about an important position, you will definitely want to be remembered well by your classmate who is going to tell the boss all about whether you should get that job.

And make sure your folks listen to the next episode on how to be mannerly parents.

Administrative

Thanks for listening to this episode of The Modern Manners Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life. 

We want to know more about those of you who listen to Quick and Dirty Tips podcasts to help us as we consider episode topics and plan for new podcast shows.  We’re taking a survey and would really appreciate it if you would give us just a couple of minutes of your time. You can find the survey by visiting my section of  QuickandDirtyTips.com and clicking on the Listener Survey button in the left column.

The Modern Manners Guy is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips Network.