Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back. – Thomas Sowell
When I started teaching at the high school level seven years ago, I was shocked and appalled at how discourteous many of the students were. I’m not talking typical teenage behavior, I’m talking a complete and utter lack of common manners. Please and thank you were not a part of many (not all) of the student’s vocabulary. I made a vow that day. My students, the ones I came in contact with frequently, would learn basic manners if it killed me. They had to address me correctly, and I returned the favor and called them Mr. or Ms. If they wanted something, they said please and when they got it they said thank you, and I did the same. At first they thought it was a big joke, or a game, but I kept insisting upon it and it finally seemed to sink in. They started to understand that when you treat people with respect, and that was the one thing they craved more than anything else. It’s such an easy things to do, treat people with politeness and consideration and the payback is immeasurable.
